Action demanded against MR, Gota, Basil
Investigations should be conducted and action taken against the former President, former Defence Secretary, the former Economic Development Minister and the Major who gave orders to shoot in connection with the Rathupaswala killings in 2012, Siyane Environment Protection United Organisation chief organiser Suresh Perera said.
“Otherwise we will not vote for this government at upcoming elections,” Perera told a press briefing in Colombo yesterday. He said various investigations are being carried out against the former President, the former Defence Secretary and the former Economic Development Minister, but not in connection with the Rathupaswala murders.
Certain UPFA MPs and ministers who acted against the people in Rathupaswala during the former President’s time now happily enjoy ministerial posts in this government. The crime was well planned and there are instances of clear evidence pointing to this, Perera said.
According to Perera, thousands of people living in 28 Grama Niladhari divisions suffer without safe and clean drinking water and a poison free environment to cultivate and live. “No compensation for dead students, injured students due to gun shots and over 25 people who have various health issues caused during the attack has been forthcoming. Instead of solving the problem and paying compensation to the victims, the police filed several cases against the villagers for various offences. Cases have been filed against villagers demanding Rs. 1.2 million and Rs. 200,000 for damaging property belonging to a temple. This temple belongs to an Urban Council member of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya,” he said.
President Maithripala Sirisena who won the election with the support of the Rathupaswala residents promised to solve the issue within three months and then in six months but still he has not delivered what he promised. Therefore, a petition had been signed and it will be handed over to him within the next few days. If the government does not solve the issues of the Rathupaswala people, they will launch a protest with the support of other organisations, Perera said.
Tharindu Uduwaragedara from the Sri Lanka Young Journalists’ Association said a case had been filed by police recently against a youth from Rathupaswala citing an incident that occurred two years ago.
Environmentalist Ravindra Kariyawasam said the PH value of Rathupaswala water is 3.6 but the normal value should be between 6.5 and 7.5.
The negative results of consuming unhealthy water such as kidney diseases etc will arise after five or more years. Providing pipe borne water provided by the Water Supply and Drainage Board will not solve the issue, he said.Ceylon Teachers’ Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin said the Brigadier responsible for the deaths of students is now freely living in Sri Lanka.
“He was appointed the second secretary of the Sri Lankan mission in Turkey by the former President after he committed the crime. He returned to Sri Lanka on September 15 and the people staged a protest against him at the airport. The report on him promised by the Army spokesman at that time has still not been released. The Human Rights Report on Rathupaswala is there without its recommendations being put into action,” he said.