Description

On the 9th May 2022, the ruling party Sri Lanka Podujana peramuna (SLPP) organised a meeting to support former Prime Minister (PM) Mahinda Rajapakse at the Temple Trees with the participation of Provincial council members, Parliamentarians and supporters amidst calls from anti-government demonstrators demanding President Gotabaya Rajapakse and other Rajapakse family members to resign from their positions in the government. A protest site specifically calling for the PM's resignation was established under the name of “MainaGoGama.” After the meeting held at the Temple Trees, the party supporters attacked the peaceful anti-government demonstrators who were near the Temple Trees and then in the Galleface. While there was around 1.5 Kilometres distance from Temple Trees to the Galleface protest site, the Police did not use adequate power to stop them, obviously knowing that they were heading to attack demonstrators in GotaGoGama, after they assaulted the demonstrators near the Temple trees. The attack led to unrest throughout the country, while mobs of people attacked and burnt the residences, offices and business places of the ruling party Parliamentarians, and Provincial council members. Prior to the attack Sri Lanka Young Journalists Association made a Police complaint regarding the imminent attack and has attempted to contact the police media correspondent to alert the situation.