Member of Parliament Ms Rohini Kaviratne strongly denounced what she termed a disgraceful act, asserting that, historically, no government, president, or police minister has ever attacked children. Speaking on behalf of the United People’s Force, she condemned the alleged assault on children, emphasizing that the right to peaceful protests and expression of opinions, as outlined in the constitution, is being suppressed by the current government.
During a press conference at the opposition leader’s office on February 1, Ms. Kaviratne highlighted the widespread protest movements against the government across the country. She affirmed that these protests would persist until the government is dismissed, underscoring the importance of the people’s unified stance.
Present at the press conference were Mr. S.M Marikkar and Mr. Sujeeva Senasinghe. Ms. Kaviratne detailed a specific incident on January 30, where supporters of Ranil Wickramasinghe lover past 26 years gathered in Colombo. According to her, the police, under the command of Tiran Alas, attacked the peaceful demonstrators, including children participating in chess matches at the public library.
Expressing concern for the well-being of the country’s children, she alleged that the government’s actions have led to malnutrition among a significant number of children. Ms. Kaviratne criticized the government for deploying tear gas against children and accused them of jeopardizing the education of the youth.
The parliamentarian accused the government of engaging in deal politics with the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and questioned their lack of street protests against government actions. She asserted that the United People’s Force, unlike the JVP, is committed to addressing issues related to education, women, and the common people.
Ms. Kaviratne also criticized the government’s handling of protests against the arrest of the former health minister and officials involved in drug fraud, accusing the government of protecting thieves. She highlighted the removal of a divisional secretary who exposed corruption involving a state minister, calling for accountability and urging responsible action.
In conclusion, Ms. Kaviratne declared that protest movements against the government are ongoing throughout Sri Lanka, and she pledged to continue these efforts with the people until the government is ousted from power.
