COLOMBO: A Sri Lankan army brigadier was today arrested for issuing shooting orders in 2013 that led to the killing of three persons, including a 14-year-old student, who were among a group of villagers demanding clean drinking water.
Brigadier Anura Deshapriya Gunawardena led an army contingent to Rathupaswala to quell a protest by residents demanding safe drinking water. Three people were shot dead and 33 protesters injured on August 1, 2013.
Police said the student was among those killed in the shooting. Earlier, the police had arrested three army personnel, a staff sergeant and two corporals in connection with the shooting.
They were all later remanded. Police said the Brigadier was produced in the Gampaha Magistrate's Court and remanded till May 31 by Chief Magistrate D A Ruwan Pathirana. Gunawardena has been accused of ordering the shooting of protestors. The residents of Rathupaswela have been demanding justice for the victims.
The issue was highlighted in the presidential election campaign in January, 2015. The Sri Lanka Human Rights Council (SLHRC) in 2013 submitted a report on the Rathupaswela incident, claiming that open air firing led to the killings.