Monk who linked assault to NPP now says he assumed victim was protest supporter
Ven. Thiththagalle Anandasiri Thera has responded to allegations by Sri Lanka Police that he spread false information about an assault during a protest march demanding the release of imprisoned Buddhist monk Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, acknowledging that he had initially assumed the injured man was a supporter of the march.
In his initial video, the monk alleged that individuals linked to the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) were responsible for attacking a man who had assisted the protest march from Kandy to Colombo.
However, responding to a police statement rejecting those claims, the monk said he had believed the injured man was someone supporting the march because the assault occurred in front of the protesters.
He did not repeat his earlier allegation directly linking the attackers to the NPP in his latest explanation, instead focusing on the police response to the incident.
The monk maintained that the assault had occurred in the presence of police officers deployed along the protest route and questioned why they had allegedly failed to intervene.
According to Ven. Anandasiri Thera, the victim was bleeding following the attack, and he helped clean the man’s wounds before arranging for him to be taken to hospital by ambulance.
He also claimed that those accompanying the march had recorded the registration number of the motorcycle involved and provided the information to police.
The monk questioned why police had focused on accusing him of spreading misinformation rather than examining the alleged failure of officers to act when the assault occurred.
He further suggested that police had taken action only after his video attracted public attention.
His response follows a statement issued by Sri Lanka Police on Oct. 15, rejecting claims that a supporter of the march had been attacked.
Police said investigations revealed that the incident occurred on Oct. 14 near the Veediyawatta Devalaya in the Weeragula police area following a traffic-related dispute between a man travelling in a lorry and a motorcyclist.
According to police, an argument arising from traffic congestion escalated into a confrontation during which the lorry occupant was struck with a helmet.
Police said the injured man had confirmed in a statement that he was travelling for personal reasons and had no connection to the protest march.
The injured man was admitted to Wathupitiwala Hospital, while the motorcyclist involved in the dispute was also admitted to Gampaha Hospital for treatment.
Police accused Ven. Anandasiri Thera of misleading the public by presenting the injured man as a supporter of the march who had been deliberately attacked.
The monk, however, rejected suggestions that he had deliberately spread false information, maintaining that he had intervened to help an injured person and publicised the incident to draw attention to the assault.
He also criticised the government’s handling of the protest and reiterated that the march would continue towards Colombo despite heavy rain.
Police said the matter would be reported to court and warned that legal action could be taken against those spreading false or unverified information capable of causing public unrest.
Further investigations are underway. (Newswire)
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