Aug 02, Colombo: The United States Embassy in
Colombo today expressed its concern about the violence in yesterday's
deadly protest staged by the residents of Weliweriya over the
contamination of ground water and the clash with security forces.
The Embassy in a statement urged the Government of Sri Lanka to respect
the rights of people to protest peacefully, and urged restraint from all
sides.
The residents of Weliweriya in Gampaha district staged a protest demanding the government to resolve the issue of water contamination allegedly by the effluents from a nearby glove making factory.
The protest turned violent when the residents blocked the main Colombo-Kandy highway and the police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd.
Residents enraged by the police action have reportedly attacked the police officers and the Army soldiers deployed to control the tense situation with stones and petrol bombs.
In the ensuing melee one protester was killed when Army fired in to the protesters and 59 people including 6 security personnel were injured.
Five Army officers and the OIC of the Weliweriya police station are reportedly among 8 of the injured people who are receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of the Colombo National Hospital.
The others are receiving treatment in Gampaha, Ragama, Wathupitiwala and Udupila rural hospitals.
Army media spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya commenting on the incident said an outside group of armed individuals instigated the violence.
Police media spokesman SP Buddhika Siriwardena said a disruptive gang attacked the army and the police although a solution was provided to the issue by the government.
The factory in question has been closed temporarily and the court has ordered an analysis of ground water and company's records on waste.
The government has ordered the Water Resources Board to supply water until a solution is reached.
