Wednesday Apr 29, 2026
Wednesday Apr 29, 2026
Wednesday, 29 April 2026 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Tensions between rival political groups surfaced near the residence of Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma yesterday, as a protest over the $ 2.5 million Treasury breach descended into disorder and thuggery, prompting Police intervention to restore order.
A political group, the Nava Janatha Peramuna, led by former Private Secretary to ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Sugeeshwara Bandara, staged a protest yesterday (28) near the residence of Dr. Suriyapperuma in Akuregoda, Pelawatta, against the reported diversion of $ 2.5 million from the General Treasury, an incident that has prompted wider scrutiny of financial controls within the Finance Ministry.
During the protest, tensions escalated when a group of individuals allegedly hurled cow dung at Bandara and several other participants. The incident triggered a confrontation between the groups present at the site.
Police later intervened to disperse those involved and restore order as the situation intensified.
Bandara is a former Private Secretary to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Commenting on the incident, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday said the cow dung attack was merely a public reaction against the protest.
However, when journalists challenged this comment, asking whether the cow-dung flingers were members of the general public or JVP/NPP activists, the Minister said it was up to the Police to investigate who the perpetrators were.
When asked if the attack on protesters was a threat to democracy, and if protests were allowed in residential areas, Dr. Jayatissa responded: “Everyone has the right to protest as long as they don’t disturb the peace and cause damage to property.”
