One soldier, policeman suffer severe injuries

Police said protesters at the Polduwa junction on Wednesday (13) had stolen two T-56 firearms and 60 bullets from a Sri Lanka Army soldier and police constable.

A complaint has been lodged in this regard with the Borella Police.

Police spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said the soldier and a policeman who had been in charge of the firearm and ammunition have been hospitalized after being assaulted by protesters.

The injured constable is attached to the Kalutara Police Training School, while the soldier is attached to an Army camp in the Wellawaya area, the police said.

The Welikada and Borella Police are conducting investigations to recover the stolen firearms. Meanwhile, 84 people who were injured in the protests near the Polduwa intersection have been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital.

Among them are an army officer, two police officers, two journalists and five women, according to the police. The spokesman added that 42 persons were injured in the protests near the Prime Minister’s Office and 42 were injured during the protest near Polduwa intersection in Battaramulla are among the 84.

Army Spokesman Brigadier Nilantha Premaratna issuing a statement yesterday that protesters had assaulted two soldiers on Wednesday night during the protests near Parliament and had stolen two automatic T-56 assault rifles from their possession along with the ammunition. He urged the public to be vigilant as violence can be spread using these stolen weapons.

The spokesman said at least 16 soldiers have sustained injuries during the clash with protesters on Wednesday and are receiving treatment at the Army Hospital.