Wellawaya turns into mini battlefield

The Wellawaya Town area turned in to a mini battlefield following the death of a resident, Loku Dadallage Ariyasena of Koda-oya, Wellawaya, who died as a result of a gun shot fired by a police officer of the Wellawaya Police, last Monday (05). The deceased was a 55 year old father of three children.

A crowd of over 1,000 placed his coffin across the Wellawaya-Thanamalwila highway at the turn off to the Army Camp and burned tyres and shouted slogans against the police.

The Police had to use tear gas to disperse the crowd. The mob hurled stones at the police. A sub-Inspector of Police and two men in the crowd were slightly injured in the turmoil.

Rural Employment Development Minister and Social Services Deputy Minister Jagath Pushpakumara who arrived at the scene spoke to the demonstrators and after contacting President Mahinda Rajapakse promised to mete out justice. The crowd then dispersed peacefully and performed the last rites.

On the orders of IGP Chandra Fernando, Wellawaya Police OIC Dhananjaya Navaratne and five others have been transferred to Monaragala Police Headquarters with immediate effect.

IP Senaka Dissanayake took up duties as the acting OIC of Wellawaya Police following the incident.