Opposition parties condemn attack on demonstrators

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 July 2001, 20:43 GMT]
Sri Lanka's opposition parties condemned the police attack on anti-government demonstrators that left two people dead and about 70 wounded. UNP sources said the police attacked demonstrators led by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe. The UNP Leader escaped unhurt due to the prompt action of his bodyguards. Mr.Wickremesinghe accused the police of trying to assassinate him.

Sri Lankan police chase a protester in Colombo, Thursday. Photo: TamilNet

Mr.P.Chandrasekaran, MP and the Leader of the Upcountry Plantations Trade Union, sustained injuries in the police attack, a private radio said.

Meanwhile, the the second largest group in the opposition, Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) met Thursday afternoon and condemned the police attack on demonstrators.

"The attack by the police has proved that the government is bent on crushing the democratic aspirations of the people," the JVP said in a statement.

The Sihala Urumaya also condemned the police attack. It appealed to all democratic forces "to rally under one banner, irrespective of party politics, to oppose the government's dictatorial manner in dealing with demonstrators."

The state radio reported in its evening news bulletin that the "so-called peaceful" demonstrations of the United National Party ended in "disaster".

Photo:TamilNet