•  Says countrywide curfew might be lifted, subject to zero incidents during the day
• Calls on people to bear with the inconvenience until security is fully restored countrywide
• Says a gradual approach was sought to control the situation, despite having Emergency Laws enforced
• 41 incidents of setting fire to vehicles, 61 incidents of causing damages to vehicles, around 136 incidents of causing damages to properties reported so far
• A total of nine people have died due to the unrest, including 2 policemen

 By Charumini de Silva

Defence Secretary General (Retd.) Kamal Gunarante yesterday assured that Sri Lanka will never resort to military rule, while noting that the situation in the country is returning to normalcy.

“Sri Lanka will never resort to militarisation, I will guarantee,” the Defence Secretary assured during a media briefing yesterday. 

He also said that in the event there are no reports of incidents of violence, a decision will be taken to lift the countrywide curfew. 

“The authorities are prepared to face any incidents that may or may not occur during the course of the day and into the night. However, we might impose the curfew after a certain timeframe to ensure law and order,” he told journalists yesterday.

Gunaratne confirmed that apart from a few incidents of violence in Negombo areas, there was no violence reported during the last 24 hours.

“The military troops were only deployed after the violence that erupted following the Galle Face attacks. On Tuesday night we deployed an Army troop to control a tense situation in Negombo by two groups that had tried to turn into a moment of communal violence. We have issued necessary instructions to tri-forces. I urge the public to remain calm and not to interrupt their duties,” he added. 

Acknowledging that he is aware of the inconvenience caused to the public due to the police curfew, Gunaratne said the authorities and people have to be mindful of security and inconvenience which are two separate factors. 

“Bear with the inconvenience until security is fully restored countrywide,” he appealed.

He said from the time Emergency Law was enforced, the authorities resorted to minimal force to arrest the organised violence. 

“These mobs were organised via social media platforms, pinning the location and within minutes people gathered. All these attacks were orchestrated in such a manner. We cannot now face those people, whose houses were torched and property damaged” he said.

As per the Defence Secretary, a total of 41 incidents of setting fire to vehicles, 61 incidents of causing damages to vehicles, around 136 incidents of causing damages to properties have been reported so far. The death toll due to the recent incidents of violence in the country has risen to nine, which includes two police officers.

However, he said the damage caused to property has not yet been estimated, as people of those properties have fled for protection.

In a backdrop where it is evident that the military has been and is continuing to provide protection to the political authorities over the public, journalists inquired which side they will take going forward and the Defence Secretary said they will continue to protect the State through the Constitution.

“Just because you wear a uniform doesn’t put him away from being a human or part of the community. You need to get into the shoes of a policeman or a soldier to know. In this situation, our soldiers are facing another citizen of our country and they have been very patient at all past events which took place from Mirihana to date, amidst people hooting and insulting them in filthy words. Till Tuesday night, we did not take any stern measures to control the situation because we cannot just shoot and kill people,” he explained.  

He said military officials at different levels have been instructed to shoot at any person involved in theft of public or private property or causing harm to individuals.

“We will try to shoot below knee level, but sometimes it could strike elsewhere like the stomach area,” he said.

In terms of the assault on the DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon on Tuesday, it was evident that police was rather shooting at the crowds not at knee level, but at chest level.

“First, we resort to disperse the crowd by opening fire to the air and if they do not heed to it, we shoot below knee level. However, we must remember that not every policeman is a marksman,” he said. 

The Defence Secretary also said that he was unable to comment on DIG Tennakoon’s involvement which triggered the clash between Government supporters and peaceful protestors, as there is an ongoing investigation. 

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