UNP looking at legal action over Punchi Borella attack

February 5, 2011, 7:00 pm

By Franklin R. Satyapalan

The UNP is considering legal action over Friday night’s attack on its candle- lit procession demanding the release of Gen. Sarath Fonseka, the party’s General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said yesterday. Several people were injured in this attack by goons armed with steel rods who set upon the protesters and their vehicles causing damage running into millions. Police said yesterday that no suspects had been arrested with the media spokesman, SSP Prashantha Jayakody, saying that the organizers had said that they were carrying out their protest at the Borella junction where maximum protection was provided. However, contrary to the original, plan they had moved towards Punchi Borella where some persons performing a Bodhi Pooja asked them to go further away.

The procession had then gone down a by-road and emerged back on the main road when they were attacked, he said adding that "as far as I know there have been no arrests." Attanayake said that they were only participating in a peaceful vigil calling for the release of a soldier who had freed the country and its people from three decades of terrorism when they were attacked.

"We would like to ask the government whether this is the democracy they practice specially on the day the country celebrated its 63rd Independence anniversary,’’ he said.

Colombo District MP Rosy Senanayake said her driver was seriously injured in the attack and had undergone surgery at the Accident Service and her vehicle was a wreck. Repairs would run into millions of rupees.

She said that those participating in the protest included UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya and MPs Ravi Karunanayake, Tiran Alles, Shiral Laktilleke and several others including Mujibur Rahuman.

They were proceeding towards the Welikada jail with MP Dayaseeli Jayasekera and Palitha Thevapperuma holding a banner calling for Gen. Fonseka’s release.

As they approached the prison they had observed that the police had barricaded the area where around 600 people who she believed to be party supporters were present.

"But I received a message through my secretary that it was advisable to move away as they were thugs who were brought there to attack us," she sad.

Senanayake who was slightly injured said that she was ashamed at the way the police behaved being the daughter-in-law of former IGP Stanley Senanayake who was a much respected police officer.

"I don’t know where the country would go at this rate," she commented.