VIDEO: Incident at Weliweriya was nothing short of murder - Kiriella
August 7, 2013 02:04 pm
The incident at
Weliweriya is nothing less than murder as it was the killing of unarmed people,
UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella stated.
Speaking at a press
conference held today (August 7) in Colombo, MP Kiriella demanded that an independent
judicial investigation take place on the incident.
He pointed out that
the government has already charged that the people had been involved in
shooting at the army. Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva stated in parliament
that the army had been shot at during the protest which had resulted in the
army retaliation in a clash that left three persons including a 17-year-old boy
and an 18-year-old boy dead.
The MP explained that
the Defence Ministry did not have to get involved in the situation in
Weliweriya as it was only the Water Supply Ministry and the Environment
Ministry that should have got involved adding that tension has built between
the police force and the army due to the incident as the army has assumed
police duties.
Kiriella pointed out
that the people asked for water tanks but instead received battle tanks while
the international community will look at this incident and will make its mind
up regarding what happened in the North.
He added that the
army cannot be allowed to murder people in this fashion after ending the war
while there is now a stain on the reputation of the armed forces.
Opposition Leader of
the Western Province Manju Sri Arangala was also present at the press briefing
and stated that the government has proven that monetary power is greater to
them than the power of the people.
He said that the
government will now move forward wearing a Buddhist label while adding that the
incident at Weliweriya is not second to the war in the North.
