Civil society activists attacked by ‘toy pistol’ Mayor?
Monday, 22 December 2014 00:00
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‘Toy pistol’ Mayor was on the rampage in Hambantota again, this time allegedly involved in the assault of pro-Opposition civil society activists in the southern district yesterday, election monitors said.
A group of activists attempting to stage a street drama at the Hambantota main bus halt last morning said they were allegedly set upon by Hambantota Urban Council Mayor Eraj Fernando and a group.
The activists were part of a protest campaign known as ‘Street protests against the insanity’.
Several UNP local government members had been part of the protest. Civil Society activist Jayathilake Bandara was injured in the attack. Several of the injured were admitted to hospitals in the area for treatment.
UNP leaders charged that police had stood passively observing while the peaceful protest was broken up by the Mayor and his group who were beating them with poles.
Disappearances Activist Britto Fernando said Mayor Fernando had been wielding a pistol.
Fernando said the UC Mayor had attempted to drag away some of the activists and insisted he would not allow them to speak against the incumbent President. Activists attempting to photograph the assault had been brutally beaten, Fernando alleged.
Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana claimed a group had ‘attempted’ to assault the demonstrators. There were no immediate arrests reported.
Eraj Fernando gained notoriety earlier this year when he led a group that launched an assault against a team of opposition fact-finders at the Mattala Airport, led by UNP MPs Eran Wickremaratne and Dr. Harsha De Silva. The Hambantota Mayor was wielding a pistol at the scene, which he later claimed was a ‘toy’ gun.
He was never arrested for the attempted attack on UNP Members of Parliament. (DB)
