Weliweriya woes return to Parliament

• PM moots Presidential Committee or a Parliament Select Committee for fresh probe

By Ashwin Hemmathagama Our Lobby Correspondent The issue of the killing of unarmed protesters who stood against the contamination of drinking water in Weliweriya surfaced in Parliament yesterday. Both ruling and Opposition legislators engaged in a heated argument over the alleged actions of the military officers present at the location who are reported to have given the command to open fire on protesters. However, Minister of Public Order, Disaster Management and Christian Affairs, John Amaratunga was unable to name the senior military officer who gave the order to fire which resulted in the death of three unarmed people - K.A.D. Akila Dinesh, H.S.R. Perera and P.R.N. Pushpakumara. “The protesters were pelting stones and throwing Molotov cocktails at law enforcement personnel. The Army said that the shooting was in self-defence and to protect public property,” said Minister Amaratunga, who confirmed that 10 soldiers had opened fire. Opposition lawmaker Anura Dissanayake, who disagreed that Molotov cocktails were thrown, charged that the police were unable to control the situation. He asked for the names of those officers who summoned the military to the scene. “Why was the military brought in? One Brigadier was behaving as if he was on the battlefield standing against terrorists. In the absence of an order from the upper ranks how did they come to the site? We do not believe that they got there without a directive from the top. You were given a mandate to stand against such tyrannical rule so we expect your Government to conduct a fair investigation and inform the public,” he added. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe proposed the appointment of a Presidential Committee or a Parliament Select Committee to further investigate the matter. “I was there and not satisfied with the outcome of the investigation. I know how the particular officer was given a diplomatic posting. The House has the right to know the details,” the Premier said. He also said that the investigation must also look into the role played by businessman and former Transport Ministry Secretary Dhamikka Perera who also owns Hayleys part of which is Dipped Products Plc. “I don’t know if he influenced the cover-up. This is a good instance of crony capitalism,” Prime Minister Wickremesinghe added.