The Arayampathy Divisional Secretary, Dhanapala Sundaram says that the group that attacked him included Eastern Provincial Council member Poopalapillai Prashanthan and a group of his supporters. I think Prashanthan has a personal grudge against me, which is why he had provoked the public into attacking me, Dhanapala Sundaram told Ada Derana.


Several people, said to have been flood victims in the East had assaulted and injured the Arayampathy Divisional Secretary and two other employees at the secretariat office earlier today (January 17). The Divisional Secretariat had also come under an attack by an unidentified group last night.


According to Mr. Sundaram one of his staff members was hospitalized following the attack and was later discharged from the hospital.


Dhanapala Sundaram stated that Prashanthan and several people from his area arrived at the Arayampathy Divisional Secretariat office today, surrounded the place and claimed that they had not received any flood relief. They threatened that they will not leave until flood relief is given and also warned that they will destroy the secretariat office, he stated.


“One person then came forward to attack me while we were talking. It was then that the police and the Government Agent in the area were informed of the situation, the police arrived on the spot and dispersed the people.”


“If anything happens to me or anyone of my staff, Provincial Councilor Prashanthan is to blame” the Divisional Secretary claimed.


-No politics behind the assault-


However when Ada Derana queried the Eastern Provincial Council member, Poopalapillai Prashanthan in regard to the incident he stated that he had accompanied UNP Provincial Council member Shashikaran to the location in order to make sure that a problem does not arise.


When the people were questioning in regard to the flood relief not being distributed properly both sides started arguing loudly and a tense situation then arose, the PC member stated.


“There was no political motive behind the attack; it was just the actions of the angered public who have not received flood aid properly” he pointed out.