Vocational Training Minister Piyasena Gamage and his supporters are alleged to have run riot at a forest reserve complex in the Southern Province on Independence Day, according to a complaint made to the police - but the minister has denied all the allegations.
According to the complaint, more than 200 people led by the minister had come to the Kanneliya, forest reserve at Udugama in Galle and asked that they be allowed to use the auditorium for a meeting, though they had not obtained prior permission.
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| Piyasena
Gamage |
They had come when the forest officers were explaining the features of the forest reserve to a group of 175, including school children and at least 10 Buddhist monks. The minister's group had allegedly demanded that the educational programme be stopped so that they could have their meeting.
They allegedly used sound system which is against the rules of the Forest Department.
After the meeting, the minister's group allegedly demanded that the forest office should provide lunch for them.
When the forest officers explained they did not have food for such a large number of people, the minister's group had allegedly invaded the kitchen and started cooking while some of them consumed liquor in violation of forest reserve regulations.
The minister had left the complex around 2 pm, but it is alleged hi supporters remained there and continued to drink.
When the forest officers told them to leave, the minister's group including his coordinating secretary had allegedly attacked a Forest officer.
| Feast of the beasts |
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The forest officer, K.K. Sunil Ranaweera who was bleeding from the ear was first taken to the Udugama hospital by his fellow officers and thereafter transferred to the Karapitiya teaching hospital where he is still receiving treatment.
"I was assaulted as I objected to the meeting and rejected their request for food for 200 people," Mr. Ranaweera told the Sunday Times on telephone from the Karapitiya hospital.
In response, Minister Gamage said he conducted a meeting of Samurdhi officers at the forest reserve auditorium and the participants left by 2 p.m.
"I understand that another group had come there after we left and assaulted the forest officer," he said.
He said the police complaint was false. |
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