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Prasanna, Johnston intimidating regional ‘GotaGoGama’ protestors?

19 May 2022

  • Allegations from ‘GotaGoGama’ sites in Minuwangoda, Kurunegala 
  • Claim attempts to link peaceful protestors to 9 May violence, create racial tensions, seal supportive shops
BY Dinitha Rathnayake  Protestors at the “GotaGoGama” sites in Minuwangoda and Kurunegala have alleged that attempts are being made to intimidate peaceful protestors on the instructions of Minister of Urban Development and Housing and Chief Government Whip MP Prasanna Ranatunga, and former Minister of Highways and former Chief Government Whip MP Johnston Fernando. Speaking to The Morning yesterday (18), protestors at the “GotaGoGama” in Minuwangoda claimed that SLPP supporters are attempting to bait protestors at the site.  “Prasanna Ranatunga’s Udugampola office is located in Minuwangoda, and his influence directly affects our ‘GotaGoGama’. We started our peaceful protest on 19 April, but it is not easy for us to keep this site going. Every day, the supporters of the SLPP are attempting to sabotage this peaceful protest and tarnish its image,” they said. Protestors alleged that some of those among them have been accused of spreading violence on 9 May.  “None of the peaceful protestors participated in the violent attacks against the SLPP supporters on 9 and 10 May, but it is clear that they are trying to pin fake charges on the peaceful protestors by using their power. Every day, we struggle to keep the peace in the area, since the thugs of the SLPP are trying to create violence against the Sinhala and Muslim communities in the areas.” It was also claimed that Minuwangoda Mayor Neil Jayasekera wanted to remove the protest site from its current location, and that a few shops that supported the peaceful protestors had been sealed by force.  “Jayasekera has asked us to leave this place. He said that the grass would be damaged by our activities, and that it would cost around Rs. 4 million to rebuild this place,” one protestor claimed. Meanwhile, it was observed during a visit by The Morning to Kurunegala that the protestors at the “GotaGoGama” in Kurunegala are also facing similar issues to the Minuwangoda protestors.  A lawyers’ collective that supports the peaceful protestors claimed that supporters of former Minister Johnston Fernando are responsible for this situation. Several social media activists in the “GotaGoGama” at the Galle Face claim that they have also received threats via phone calls from unknown people, as well as those claiming to be supporters of the SLPP. When contacted for comment, Ranatunga’s Media Secretary Pradeep Anura Kumara denied that there had been any intimidation or attempts at sabotage by Ranatunga. “There has been no intimidation. However, the CCTV footage of the attack on his house and office have been handed over to the Police,” he told The Morning yesterday.


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