Friday, 9 August 2013 00:00
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Victim families give evidence, plead for justice to be served
The Gampaha Chief Magistrate ordered a report on the violence during a water protest in Weliweriya on 1 August that killed three people and injured many others when the inquiry was taken up before the Court yesterday. Gampaha Chief Magi-strate Tikiri Jayathilake also asked the Colombo Crimes Division to probe why certain internet, YouTube and media reports had emerged claiming he had rejected a request by the Police to close down the factory the residents were claiming had contaminated the groundwater in the area.
The Magistrate ordered the CCD to find out why attempts were made to mislead the public on the issue and report its findings to Court. He told Court that no request to shut down the factory had been brought before him when the matter came up before the Court previously.
Following massive public protests over the water contamination crisis in the area, the Police took the matter to the Gampaha Court in an attempt to obtain assistance with the investigation into the source of the pollution.
He said that about 3,000 viewers had viewed this report on YouTube and the erroneous report could create suspicion in the minds of the public about the magisterial inquiry into the incident.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Jayalath Balagalla gave evidence about the Weliweriya incident in detail before Court. He said that Brigadier Deshapriya Gunewardane had discussed the protest with the SSP.
“The Brigadier told Police that he would act to remove the protestors from the Colombo-Kandy Road. On 1 August, they threw stones and bottles of sand. We heard firing from within the crowd. We used tear gas and water cannons. The Army acted to disperse the crowd,” the ASP told Court.
Giving evidence before Court that he had identified his 18-year-old cousin Chamila Ravishan Perera who died of gunshot injuries following the incident, Krishan Tharanga Perera asked that justice be served.
The victim’s father Anton Patrick Perera also gave evidence.
The mother of 17-year-old Akila Dinesh, the first fatality from the clashes who also died of gunshot wounds, Priyangani Shiromani Jayawardane and his aunt, Nirudhika Kumuduni Jayawardane, also gave evidence.
The case will be taken up for further inquiry on 22 August.
