Police arrest Ex-politico & municipal worker over attacks on MynaGoGama & GotaGoGama

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police arrested Former Provincial Councilor Amal Silva and an employee attached to the Moratuwa Municipal Council over the attacks on the GotaGoGama and MynaGoGama protest sites.

Sri Lanka's Attorney General on Monday (16) directed the Inspector General of Police, and the Senior DIG in charge of the Criminal Investigations Department to arrest and produce in court 22 people including Ex-Ministers, and Members of Parliament who are linked to the attack on the MynaGogama & GotaGoGama peaceful protest sites.

Ex-Minister Johnston Fernando, Ex-State Minister Sanath Nishantha, MPs Sanjeewa Edirimanne, Milan Jayathilake, Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando, Colombo Municipal Councilor Mahinda Kahandagamage, Dan Priyasad are among those named by the Attorney General.

A normal Monday morning on the 9th of May 2022, turned into a scene of chaos after pro-government supporters attacked the MynaGoGama protest site near Temple Trees following a meeting chaired by then-Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The meeting at Temple Trees was organized by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Local Government Members Forum and saw hundreds in attendance.

Following this meeting, the pro-government supporters attacked the MynaGoGama protest site near Temple Trees and dismantled the camp.

Thereafter, they moved to the main protest site in Galle Face known as GotaGoGama and destroyed several tents, and assaulted peaceful protestors.

Sri Lanka Police, the Riot Police, Sri Lanka Army, and other law enforcement agencies were called in to control the situation and Sri Lanka Police eventually imposed an island-wide curfew to control the unrest.