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SLASA
wants tough action against UPFA politician
The Hingurakgoda Divisional Secretary W.M. Gunawardena who is reported to have come under attack on Friday while in his office returned to work after being warded for a week at the Hingurakgoda and Kandy hospitals. He received eye injuries and his hearing has been affected in the attack carried out by a People's Alliance Pradeshiya Sabha member and another former PS member. SLASA President S. Rannuge who is also the Sports Ministry Secretary told The Sunday Times that they had requested President Chandrika Kumaratunga to expedite inquiries into the incident and to take action against the guilty politician at party level. The Divisional Secretary Mr. Gunawardena told The Sunday Times that the armed gang led by the Pradeshiya member Susantha Gnanaratna stormed his office and attacked him and damaged state property including the fax machine. Mr. Rannuge said he believed the motive for the attack might be the disciplinary action instituted, by Mr. Gunawadena against the Pradeshiya Sabha member - who was also a Samurdhi Niyamaka - for staying away from work during the whole of April. The reason for absenting himself from work was that one of his relatives was contesting the Wayamba Provincial Council election and the PS member had gone there to support the relative's campaign. During the attack they had also allegedly assaulted a peon at the Divisional Secretary's office and had thrown mud on the files that were in the secretary's office and also on President Kumaratunga's photograph hanging on the wall. The gang had then poured cow dung on the official and threatened one of the workers who came to rescue the Divisional secretary. Before the gang had carried out the alleged attack they are said to have attended a meeting presided over by SLFP General Secretary and River Basin Development Minister Maithripala Sirisena where this particular Pradeshiya Sabha member had called for the removal of the Divisional Secretary. The Minister had in response pointed out that it was not possible to accede to this request. The Pradeshiya Sabha member had reacted by saying 'we will take over the job to have him removed'. Mr. Gunawardena was given additional police protection when he returned to work on Friday. Employees of the Divisional Secretariat have threatened to launch a strike if speedy action is not taken to arrest the persons involved in the attack. Assistant Superintendent of Police, Theja Tilakasiri told The Sunday Times that until Friday they had not been able to make any arrests despite the search carried out for the suspects. He said the police had searched the house of a former PA parliamentarian on Thursday night, but could not trace the suspects. ASP Tilakasiri said they were looking for the Pradeshiya Sabha member, a former PS member and four others. According to reports received from the area the people involved in the alleged attack are reportedly receiving political protection which is hampering the police from arresting the culprits. |
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