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| Weerawansa’s protests wreak havoc – DIG assaulted; Piyasiri Wijenayake also attacked |
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| -even if I am sacked from Minister post I will not give up the fast –Weerawansa |
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 (Lanka-e-News, July 07, 2010, 9.50AM) A number of protestors who were staging a fast in front of the UN Organization office at Baudhaloka Mawatha entered into a scuffle with the DIG Pathirane of the Colombo range three. His cap was forcibly removed and thrown, and he was assaulted.
This incident occurred while Minister and leader of NFF Weerawansa was speaking over the phone to the Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse, and after a senior Police officer nearby overheard the conversation.
Following the telephone conversation of Weerawansa and the overhearing by the Police officer, a tense situation erupted with heated exchange of words between the Police and the crowd with the police personnel who were detailed for security at the UN office during the protests being immediately ordered off the area by the protestors.
In this scuffle, the NFF former Minister of cultural affairs ,Piyasiri Wijenayake has been assaulted and is now admitted to the emergency ward of the Colombo National Hospital.
Minister Weerawansa addressing the protestors said, no matter what obstacles are placed, and even if he is sacked from his Ministerial post he would not abandon his campaign of fasting.
The officers and staff of the UN office were sent out with police protection amidst obstructions, hooting and jeering by the Weerawansa cronies.
The protests were begun on the condition that the staff of the UN office will be held hostage.
The foreign staff of the highest rungs working in the UN office had informed their main office that they are being held hostage. The UN Headquarters had then intimated to the Foreign affairs Ministry of the harassment faced by their staff. Following this complaint, the Secretary of the Foreign affairs Ministry Romesh Jayasinghe had visited the UN office in Colombo and had discussions. Two representatives of the NFF have also participated at this discussion.
At the discussions, agreement was reached that the UN representatives shall be allowed to leave the office. Accordingly, they were seen being sent out with police protection.
Minister Wimal Weerawansa announced that until the advisory Committee appointed by the Secretary General of the UN is called off, the fast will be strictly observed; and if anything is done to impede their action, a fast unto death will be staged. |
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