PS Chairman who banned Muslim traders from weekly fair asked to appear in court

Wednesday, 26 June 2019 01:59 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Wennappuwa PS Chairman asked to appear in court on Friday
Directive follows Police complaint over banning Muslim traders
Chairman says his actions intended to maintain peaceful atmosphere
Mangala calls move ‘Apartheid in Wennappuwa’

By Chandani Kirinde

Wennappuwa Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) Chairman K.V. Susantha Perera has been asked to appear before the Marawila Magistrate Court on Friday, in connection with a letter he issued prohibiting Muslim traders from doing business at the Dankotuwa weekly fair.

The court directive follows a Police complaint against the PS Chairman, a member of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). On Monday, he sent a letter to the OIC of the Dankotuwa Police to temporary disallow Muslims traders from trading at the fair in order to maintain a peaceful atmosphere.

In the letter addressed to the Police, the PS Chairman said that following the Easter Sunday attacks, both traders and those visiting the fair have objected to Muslim traders doing business at the site, which is maintained by the PS.

Hence, he had directed the Police to take action to temporarily stop Muslim traders from operating there, so as to maintain a peaceful atmosphere which could be threatened by their presence.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, in a tweet, described the PS Chairman’s action as: “Apartheid in Wennappuwa; Muslim traders ‘banned’ in weekly market by @PresRajapaksa controlled local council. Shame!”