JVP accuses Buddhadasa’s goons of assault

JVP members of the Kaduwela Pradeshiya Sabha have been allegedly assaulted by a group of thugs associated with the Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) Chairman G.H. Buddhadasa.

JVP sources told The Sunday Leader that the party members in the PS were assaulted allegedly by UPFA supporters because they objected to a request to make a special statement by Kaduwela PS member Prabath Dharshana, who defected from the JVP to join Wimal Weerawansa’s faction.

The Kaduwela PS had convened on Friday (25) at 9.30 a.m. and during the sessions; the four JVP members in the PS had supported a motion moved by Deputy PS Chairman, Jagath Kumara to object the involvement of a Kaduwela PS member in the distribution of liquor and narcotics in the Kaduwela area.

“The motion was moved against Buddhadasa. When the motion was taken up, over 150 of his thugs were in the gallery watching everyone who spoke in favor of the motion,” a JVP source said.

Former JVP member Dharshana had then requested time to make a special statement and the JVP members in the PS had objected saying he had no right to make such a statement. The governing UPFA members had then opposed the statement of the JVP members.

Following a heated argument between the JVP members and the UPFA members, several members had attempted to assault each other. However, the incident was settled and the session had continued. “The statement Dharshana intended to make was going to be against the JVP and the UPFA members wanted it made. That was why they created a disturbance,” the JVP source said.

At the conclusion of the PS sessions at 2.30 p.m., a group of about 150 thugs had allegedly arrived at the ground floor and assaulted the JVP members, who were about to leave the premises.

According to the JVP source, JVP PS member Asitha Niroshana was badly assaulted and his travel bag was also taken by the thugs. Niroshana is currently being treated at the Colombo National Hospital. JVP PS member Gamini Sarath Kumara had lodged a complaint regarding the incident with the Nawagamuwa Police.

Police Spokesperson SSP Ranjith Gunasekera said that the police has so far not made any arrests with regard to the incident.

He said that the Nawagamuwa police was still conducting the inquiries and that the JVP council member receiving treatment in hospital had said he was able to identify two people who involved in the alleged assault. “The police is now making arrangements for the member to identify the suspects,” SSP Gunasekera said.