Rathupaswala ‘war hero’ arrested!

May 25, 2017

CID has arrested Brig. Deshapriya Gunawardena, accused of having ordered the attack and the subsequent firing that killed three, including two schoolboys, on a protest by people of Rathupaswala in Weliweriya demanding safe drinking water on 01 August 2013.

On 02 August same year, ASP Sandasiri Bandara reported to courts that the Army had attacked (fired at) the protesters who had attacked the soldiers who had gone there for the protection of the police. The incident left around 50 others injured.

 

The attack and firing by the Army team led by Brig. Gunawardena came after police was deployed to disperse the protesters, had their protest turned violent.

 

There have been accusations that the attack on the protesters had been carried out on the orders of the then defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

 

Brig. Gunwardena was arrested today following a two year investigation by the CID, on charges of illegal assembly and aiding murders.

 

Last March, the CID arrested three men over firearms use during the protest.

 

CID sources say the topmost official who had ordered that the protesters be attacked and shot at, would be arrested soon.