Top Lankan bureaucrat handling security resigns over failure to curb violence on May 9
COLOMBO: A top bureaucrat of Sri Lanka's Ministry of Security who is in charge of the police department resigned on Monday over his failure to curb the violent clashes between anti- and pro-government protesters earlier this month that killed at least 10 people and injured over 200 others.
On May 9, violence erupted in Sri Lanka after supporters of former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa attacked peaceful anti-government protesters demanding his ouster over the country's worst economic crisis that led to acute shortages of staple food, fuel and power.
Major General (Retd.) Jagath Alwis has stepped down from his position as the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, after submitting his resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, officials said.
On Monday, Alwis was grilled by Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for close to four hours, and his statement was recorded over his alleged actions that triggered violent clashes at Galle Face on May 9.
Last week, Education Minister Ramesh Pathirana informed the Parliament that Senior Police DIG in-charge of the Western Province Deshabandu Tennakoon had informed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that Inspector General of Police Chandana D.
Wickramaratne had instructed him not to block the mob heading to Galle Face to disrupt the anti-government protesters, online portal Colombo Gazette reported.
Pathirana added that the President demanded action be taken to prevent the situation from spiralling out of control.
Following the President's orders, police rushed to the spot and fired tear gas and water cannons on the mob, by which time scores were injured and at least 10 people were dead, according to Colombo Gazette.
Members of CID interrogated Wickramaratne on Saturday, officials said.
Alwis and Wickramaratne have been blamed for the violence that happened on May 9.
Last week, Sri Lanka's CID also quizzed three members of the ruling SLPP parliamentary group over their alleged involvement in the clashes.
Two of their colleagues who were arrested previously have been remanded in custody till May 25.
On Friday, Namal Rajapaksa, a former minister and the son of former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa also summoned and his statement was recorded.
Members of the ruling coalition government blamed Opposition party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna for instigating the violence on May 9, which was vehemently denied by the Marxist party.
The mob destroyed several tents and other structures erected at Galle Face and also attacked some of the demonstrators.
The violence saw arson attacks on the homes of several politicians, including the ancestral home of the Rajapaksas in Hambantota.
The properties of some 78 government parliamentarians faced arson in the ensuing attacks.
Sri Lanka has been witnessing large-scale protests against the government's handling of the debt-ridden economy -- the worst-ever economic crisis in the country's history.
The country of 22 million is grappling with unprecedented economic turmoil since its independence from Britain in 1948.
The crisis is caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which has meant that the country cannot afford to pay for imports of staple foods and fuel, leading to acute shortages and very high prices.