To counter demos by JVP, UNP and the LTTE:

Crowds throng Sri Lankan Embassy in Italy

The JVP has requested permission from the Police to demonstrate opposite the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Italy demanding President Mahinda Rajapaksa to hold a free and fair election and ensure media freedom. As the news spread, the Sri Lankan community in Rome assembled in large numbers in the Embassy premises on that day December 10, 2009 to counter the JVP demonstration.

The JVP had their last demonstration in front of the Sri Lankan Embassy in the year 2005. This time though they sought permission from the Italian Police to demonstrate in front of the Embassy of Sri Lanka, the Ambassador, Hemantha Warnakulasuriya intervened and informed the Police, that under no circumstances they should demonstrate in front of the Embassy.

Thereafter, the Police ordered the demonstrators which was around 40 to demonstrate at a corner, 100 yards away from the Embassy premises.

The Sri Lankan community in Rome who has expressed sincere appreciation for the excellent service rendered by the Embassy, gathered in the Embassy premises and had a 'Jayagosha Rally' inside the Embassy premises.

Their main object was to counter the demonstration organized by the JVP, UNP and the LTTE and to ensure the victory of H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa in the forthcoming Presidential election. Mr. Gamage Kumarasinghe, President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party branch in Rome said that history has been created as the first time they are conducting this meeting without even obtaining the permission from the Police to counter the rally organized by a click who represents JVP and the UNP. He also said that this demonstration is a combination of the JVP, UNP and the LTTE.

When one person from JVP entered the Embassy to hand over the petition to the Ambassador, he told him it is very important to find out who were responsible for the stifling of media freedom in the past and present.

We must hold a Commission to find out the political organization behind the killing of Mr. Thevis Guruge, Mr. Premakeerthi De Alwis, the famous lyricist and Miss. Sagarika Gomes whose alleged crime was that she read the news bulletin over the Rupavahini in spite of the ban imposed by an organization.She was raped and brutally murdered and the body was thrown to the Mt.Lavinia beach. Simultaneously Mr. Richard De Soyza was murdered.

These murders were to stifle the media at that time and those who now speak for the media freedom may have been responsible for these crimes. He also said that it is very important that the Government should take the initiative to inquire into the alleged assaults of Mr. Keith Noyhar, Mr. Upali Thennakoon, Editor of `Rivira' and murder of Mr. Lasantha Wickramatunga, Editor of `Sunday Leader'. If a proper investigation is held to find out who were responsible for those assaults and murders, those who stand for media freedom today would know better who was responsible for recent assaults and murders.

The only way to expose to the public those who were guilty of assaulting the media freedom and committing crimes of high magnitude is to make an impartial investigation and file action against whom a prima facia case made out irrespective of their position in life.

In order to show the unforeseen hand and the reason behind this assaults it is the need to establish an independent commission to expose the guilty to the public. Mr. Christy Fernando, National Organizer for SLFP and Ven. Mamandale Anomasara Thero from Sri Sudharshanaramaya temple too spoke at this `Jayagosha rally'. At this rally, they pledged support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to become victorious with much votes at the forthcoming Presidential election.