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Police defend how it dealth with 'Black Lives Matter' protesters

10 Jun 2020

No disciplinary action will be taken against the police officers who arrested the 'black lives matter' protesters yesterday, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of the Western Province, Deshabandu Tennakoon told The Morning. "There is no requirement to take disciplinary action against police officers who rightly exercised their duty to arrest and disperse the protesters," Tennakoon said. Asked why some protesters were assaulted, Tennakoon said "Some protesters were laying flat on the road and at this instance the Police had to use force to arrest them. We cannot mollycoddle those who defy the law." "The protesters very well knew that they were not permitted to stage a demonstration due to the coronavirus situation the country," he added. Many on social media including former MP Namal Rajapaksa have condemned the assault on protesters. Rajapaksa taking to his twitter account today said, "The recent behaviour of some members of @SriLankaPolice2 shouldn't tarnish the track record of the entire Department & the great job done during #COVID19SL. I strongly condemn the assault on protesters, & call for it to be investigated & proper action to be taken. #SriLanka #lka" Police arrested 53 members of the Frontline Socialist Party  (FSP ) including its Leader Kumar Gunaratnam for violating court orders yesterday (9) and holding a protest in front of the US Embassy in Colombo, demanding justice for George Floyd, an African-American who was recently killed by the Minneapolis Police during an arrest. FSP Politburo member Duminda Nagamuwa was also among the arrested, Police stated. The arrested FSP members were granted bail after being produced before the Fort Magistrate. On Monday (8), the Colombo Fort Magistrate issued an order prohibiting the holding of the protest outside the US Embassy.    


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