Sirikotha Attack: Protesters funded by German NGO, UNP leader tells Parliament

Saman Indrajith– UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday told Parliament that a German NGOfunded the protesters who attacked the UNPheadquarters, Sirikotha on Monday. He said he had sought the help of German Ambassador in Colombo to put an end to financial assistance to troublemakers. He urged the government to conduct a probe to find out whether the German funds had been utilised for Monday’s attack.

The UNPleader apologized to his party members and countrymen for his failure to protect Sirikotha on Monday in the aftermath of his re-election as Party leader.

Making a special statement in Parliament, with the permission from Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody, the Opposition Leader requested the government to hold an independent inquiry into the attacks on the UNP headquarters. He wanted the government to find out whether a German Non-government organization had funded the attackers.

Wickremesinghe said he had lodged a complaint with the Police regarding the incidents and asked the government to conduct an investigation into them.

“There is a private media institution that instigated these incidents. This too must be probed,” he said.

“It is said that Shiral Lakthilaka was behind some of these incidents. We have suspended his party membership. A German NGO funds them. I have personally requested the German Ambassador in Sri Lanka to help stop funding these people. I request the government to probe whether these funds had been used to attack the UNP head office,” he said.
IS