Pro-Rajapaksa supporters attack peaceful Galle Face Green Sponsored violence ensures black day for protesters

Yesterday (May 9) marked a month since the Galle Face Green transformed into a mass protest site. However, it took only a matter of hours for pro-Rajapaksa supporters to not only destroy tents that were put up in front of Temple Trees and Galle Face Green while assaulting peaceful protesters. When the word went round that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was preparing to tender his resignation, many local government politicians and provincial councillors arranged bus loads of people to be present near Temple Trees on May 9. A demonstration that appeared to be peaceful in nature took a violent turn when pro-Rajapaksa supporters moved towards ‘MainaGoGama’ in front of Temple Trees where they burned down tents and assaulted peaceful protesters before heading towards the ‘GotaGoGama’. The destruction is irreversible as many tents had been burned down. At the time of writing as many as 154 people had suffered injuries following the attacks on peaceful protesters at the Galle Face Green. Minutes after the incidents unfolded, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa issued a statement condemning violent acts while Prime Minister Rajapaksa officially tendered his resignation in an undated letter.

Eyewitness accounts reveal that the pro-Mahinda supporters were armed with weapons. “It was around 1.00 pm when a group of around 200-300 people came with knives and swords and started destroying the tents,” said Akesh Piusanka. “They started coming from Temple Trees and when they were approaching the police released high pressure water. They reached the S.W.R.D Bandaranaike statue and started destroying the tents. Every one of them was armed with iron bars. They destroyed the St. John’s tent.  The Police then fired tear gas and they backed off. One of our team members has been stabbed. The Police took their own time to throw water,” said Piusanka.

Fr. Jeewantha Pieris had been at the protest site since its inception. He addressed meetings and was very much involved in the struggle. “Today (May 9) marks one month since the protest commenced at Galle Face Green. There were tensions since 9.00am, but there weren’t many people here. Around noon a group of people came to Galle Face from Temple Trees and the Police either knowingly or unknowingly couldn’t control them. They behaved like thugs and assaulted the protesters mercilessly. For a month people carried out a peaceful protest in a rather creative manner.  It was after they attacked that the Police threw tear gas. Hundreds of thugs gathered here and mercilessly repressed this non-violent protest. It continued for more than two hours and the people were backing off. They continuously attacked the non-violent protesters. We condemn this brutal act of violence. This is state terrorism. We urged the Police and the Army to do something, but they didn’t do anything. They allowed these thugs to come in and attack peaceful protesters,” said Fr. Pieris. 

Addressing the crowd in its aftermath, members of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) pledged that they would stand by and protect the people who are burdened by the oppressive regime. “The Bar Association will join hands with the public and take this mission forward. Neither Gotabaya or Mahinda Rajapaksa or their henchmen can lay their hands on people. We saw how they suppressed journalists. They have to bear the curse of killing Lasantha Wickrematunge, abducting Ekneligoda and other journalists. This is the saddest day in the political history of Sri Lanka. When democracy ends, anarchy begins. Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” members of the BASL said.