AKD accuses President of  pursuing and attacking peaceful protestors with vengeance

 NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake

• Says law enforcement is pursuing peaceful protests and creating violent situations by attacking demonstrators 
• Questions the use of soldiers bearing wooden sticks and iron rods against protestors
• Expresses concerns if banned gases are being used as tear gas on protestors due to two recent deaths at protests following tear gas attacks

National People’s Party (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Thursday accused the Government led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe of pursuing peaceful protests with a vengeance and creating violent situations by attacking demonstrators. 

He said President Wickremesinghe and the Government are violating the people's fundamental rights in a most undemocratic manner. The NPP leader made these comments during a press conference held at the party office in Pelawatta.

Dissanayake said the Government has now gotten into the habit of attacking peaceful protests.  “The right to peaceful assembly and dissent is a fundamental right accorded to the people through the constitution. However, a President without a mandate who came into power with the support of 113 corrupt MPs has unleashed oppression on the general public to safeguard his post and the 113 supporting him,” he said. 

Commenting on the crackdown of recent protests and deaths during them, Dissanayake accused Wickremesinghe of using violent mobs to attack protestors and suppress them. “Ranil Wickremesinghe is carrying out murders. He responded to the protest against the attack on the IUSF protest on 7 March with more force,” he said. Dissanayake accused the President of blocking peaceful protests and using force to suppress them instead. 

He also questioned the use of soldiers bearing wooden sticks and iron rods against the protestors. “What is the legal power to arm them in this manner? Ranil Wickramasinghe has started a culture of attacking peaceful protests with various types of sticks now,” he noted. The NPP leader said however the President is mistaken if he believes he can suppress peaceful protests in this manner. 

He called on the people to voice their dissent against the Government’s acts of oppression. “We assure you we will defeat Ranil Wickremesinghe who is oppressing the people despite having no mandate. We will face off against him and his mobs bearing sticks and rods with the power of the people. The people are more powerful than the country’s constitution,” he said. 

He demanded the President stop all anti-democratic, repressive and disruptive actions immediately. Dissanayake expressed his concerns about the tear gas used on protestors due to the recent deaths. “We have a valid concern if banned gases are being used on protestors. We condemn these oppressive acts,” he said.