The Minister of Public Defense Prasanna Ranatunga has stated that the police fired on a protest in Rambukkana yesterday (19) in accordance with the Police Ordinance and that the police have the necessary powers to do so.
The Minister said that the protesters had tried to set fire to a bowser containing 33,000 liters of fuel and if that had happened, there would not have been a Rambukkana left today.
He also accused the opposition, led by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, of intensifying the recent protests in the country by drawing people by buses.
Addressing Parliament this morning (20), the Minister made this special statement amidst strong opposition from opposition members. They were seen protesting, calling the minister a “murderer.”
