Defence Ministry regrets incident involving disabled soldiers

By Chathuri Dissanayake

The Defence Ministry yesterday expressed regret over the confrontation between the Police and disabled soldiers who staged a protest near the Presidential Secretariat on Monday.

State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene claimed that the members of the Joint Opposition should take full responsibility for causing the escalation of a peaceful protest into an altercation with the Police. Wijewardene also defended the action taken by the Police stating that they acted in faith to prevent unruly crowds from entering a state building. 

“The situation escalated after we had negotiated a settlement, where we had already informed the leaders of the group of protestors that they would be paid a full service pension as demanded. Their leader then spoke to a monk and another member who was outside the Presidential Secretariat to inform them that the matter had been settled but immediately after they had tried to enter the premises,” he stated, adding that the action was fuelled by the intention to discredit the Government. 

Displaying photographs to indicate that no disabled soldiers were involved in the clash, he highlighted that the clash was between the Police and external forces that were present. 

The Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the disabled soldiers who protested near the Presidential Secretariat demanding a pension. Ravana Balaya and a number of Joint Opposition political activists were also present to show solidarity with soldiers. However, Wijewardene said the disabled soldiers were used to fulfil the political goals of certain elements.

Megapolis and Western Development Deputy Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, who has been involved in negotiations with the group from the beginning of the dispute, claimed that members of the group were not present at discussions on Saturday and Sunday despite repeated invitations from the Defence Ministry. 

He claimed that the authorities had taken measures to amend regulations to enable a full service pension for those who had left the armed forces prior to completing the mandatory 12 years of service even when the protests started last week.  

Outlining a dateline of 2008, Alagiyawanna claimed that a Cabinet paper approved by the previous Government to pay pension did not cover all legal provisions needed for the move. 

A separate department for war veterans will be set up to deliver all related services and address any related problems in the future, Wijewardene revealed. 

“We will set up the department next year similar to the one operated in the US, to ensure that all the problems of the retired members of the tri-forces and the Police are addressed immediately and effectively,” he asserted.