In a recent development, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been apprised of intelligence reports outlining an impending effort to instigate public unrest reminiscent of the events that transpired on May 09, 2022. Minister Bandula Gunawardena, addressing the media during the customary weekly press conference held on Tuesday (August 08), disclosed that the Head of State had shared information from the State Intelligence Service (SIS) with the Cabinet of Ministers.
The Cabinet spokesperson disclosed that the intelligence reports have illuminated the intentions of certain factions associated with the Aragalaya movement, which is aligned with the opposition. These groups are purportedly orchestrating a resurgence of the incidents that unfolded on May 09 of the previous year, exploiting the ongoing drought, electricity crisis, and water scarcity as a pretext.
Minister Gunawardena highlighted that there have been deliberate efforts to besiege the residences of Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera and Power & Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera. In anticipation of potential attacks, heightened security measures have been implemented to safeguard against such threats.
Further revelations by Gunawardena brought to light the involvement of at least two media organizations in the scheme to foment turmoil anew on the streets, utilizing the water crisis induced by the drought and the agitation among farmers as a convenient guise.
The minister underscored that this calculated endeavor represents an endeavor to disrupt the stability of the nation. He asserted that these specific factions are aiming to provoke law enforcement into a retaliatory response, potentially escalating to violent clashes, and exploit resulting casualties for their own political gains.
