Bring attackers to book, trishaw drivers say
Threaten countrywide protest rally:
Chamikara WEERASINGHE
The National Federation of United Three Wheel Drivers’ Association
yesterday said they will stage a countrywide protest rally no other
trade union or professional organisation has ever staged, if the Police
and Judiciary will not take steps to bring to book lawyers who attacked
their member Rohana Perera opposite the Superior Courts complex in
Hulftsdorp.
Federation president Lalith Dharmasekera told a press conference in
Colombo that three wheeler drivers decided on a two-week wait before
they take any action, so that the Police have enough time to bring the
culprits to justice.
Officials and members of the All Island Three Wheel Drivers’
Association, All Island Meter Taxi Association of Sri Lanka, National
Joint Three Wheelers’ Association, Jathika Ekabadda Thriroda Ratha
Riyadurange Samithiya and All Island Three Wheel Drivers’ Union were
present.
Jathika Ekabadda Thriroda Ratha Riyadurange Samithiya Secretary
Rohana Perera was reportedly attack during a protest rally held by three
wheeler drivers under the theme ‘Protect Judiciary from Corrupt Allies’
(Dushitha Gajamithurangen Adhikaranaya Bera Ganimu)on Friday.
Dharmasekera said: “We expect the Police to take legal steps against
the lawyers who carried out the attack.
“We have obeyed law and order and kept peace as responsible citizens
then. The lawyers broke the law by attacking an unassuming individual.”
Explaining what had happened, Secretary Rohana Perera said he can
recognise three of them who carried out the attack.
“They said that I was getting beaten up because we support the
government (Umbala guti kanne aanduwata kade yana nisa),” they said.
Dharmasekera said: “We demand the Police to show their commitment to
protect law and order.”
Pointing at the banner that was attached to the wall behind him which
read Amana Neethinnayo Mahadhikaranaya Idiripita Thriroda Ratha
Riyadurata Pahara Dethi (Mindless lawyers assault trishaw driver in
front of Supreme Court), he said they used the word Amana which means
“mindless” because no lawyer with brains could commit such an attack on
a civilian.
“ We are eager to see how the Police will act to keep law and order
against those responsible for this attack. We have paid lawyer fees and
fines every time the Police took us to Court to charge us with traffic
offences,” he said.
“Now it is their turn to show their commitment to maintain law and
peace,” Dharmasekera said.
“Do not take this lightly,” he asked.“We demand an impartial
investigation as much as we want a fair and balanced judiciary.”
National Joint Three Wheelers’ Association president K D Alwis asked:
“What if we attacked a lawyer? What will be the fate of a three wheel
driver who had attacked a lawyer. Won’t they be prosecuted?”
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