Sirikotha attack: Police inaction leads to bloodshed- CaFFE

Campaign for Free and fair Elections (CaFFE) while condemning yesterday’s attack on United National Party (UNP) headquarters in ‘Sirikotha’, said that the police inaction resulted the violent incident.

Executive Director of CAFFE Keerthi Tennakoon said in a statement, “after the announcement of the common candidate, the main opposition and its activities were disturbed with violence, intimidation, disruptions and sabotage and CaFFE considers the attack on Sirikotha is the climax of these activities.

The attack was carried out by the ‘Federation of National Organizers (FNO)’ an umbrella organization of Minister Wimal Weerawana, a main spokesman of the government. The FNO had organized this to protest the ‘Ranil-Maithri Secret Pact’. 

Around 125 persons gathered opposite Sirikotha and chanted slogans demanding the UNP to reveal the secret MoU. The FNO called the UNP a traitorous group. Hearing the shouting UNP activists who were inside the HQ arrived and a heated argument ensued.

The police were well equipped with riot gear but they did not use this to disperse the FNO supporters who initiated the attack. The FNO supporters who retreated to a by lane opposite the UNP HQ were allowed to escape through a back road. They were seen heading towards Nugegoda in several vehicles belonging to several institutions of the Ministry of Housing and Construction.

CaFFE notes that this is not the first time that police inaction has led to violence. Police took no action to stop attacks on opposition activists in many parts of Sri Lanka including Eppawala, Hambantota and Haputale. However they were quick to respond when opposition activists retaliate.  

CaFFE urges law enforcement authorities to take necessary action to minimize election violence and the political authorities to allow policemen to carry out their duties,”