Attempt to project wrong impression to the world

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando said there is some conspiracy behind the Weliveriya incident to embarrass the Government and put the country into difficulty. Some extremist force behind this incident is attempting to capitalise on the Weliveriya incident to project a wrong impression to the world community.

This Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa is democratic. Therefore, we call upon those who instigate people not to create such incidents with the intention of toppling the Government and derive some sadistic pleasure by victimising people, the Minister told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

Incidents similar to Weliveriya had also occurred in the past and some people lost their lives as a result. It is deplorable that the Opposition and others with vested interest are trying to gain undue mileage from the Weliveriya incident, the Minister said.

Minister Fernando said that from the day terrorism ended, certain extremist forces had attempted to create havoc and destabilise the country. Earlier too a youth died following a demonstration at the Katunayake Free Trade Zone. It was proved that some extraneous force was behind that incident too. It is now clear that some extraneous forces or parties had been behind the Weliveriya incident instigating people against the Security Forces. At present, a full scale investigation is being carried out on the incident.

“Except for a terrorist organisation, people never argued or clashed with the Army. It was only the JVP and LTTE which challenged the Army. The JVP even killed family members of the Security Forces during the 1988-1989 insurrection.”

The Minister said according to information received the protesters had fired at the Army and attacked them. It was these war heroes who had eradicated terrorism after 30 years. If the Security Forces were attacked or fired at when they were deployed to control the tense situation, it is quite evident that a group against them had done it. If the Army was attacked or mobs opened fire it had to retaliate in selfdefence and bring the situation under control.