By Sri Lanka’s main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has called for the immediate release of actress and protest leader Damitha Abeyaratne who is in remand custody for forcibly entering the presidential secretariat.
Leader of the opposition Sajith Premadasa told parliament on Thursday, September 08 that he visited Abeyartne at the Fort Police station where she is being held after she was arrested the previous day.
“She hasn’t done anything illegal. She has not caused any damage to private or public property. She has simply exercised her right to protest,”
he said.
Premadasa was interrupted by ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa, prompting Premadasa to ask “Why is Namal shouting?”
“If someone has committed an offense, they must be punished as per the law. And investigations must be assisted. Let’s remember that an MP was killed in that period, and a lot of houses were burnt,”
said Rajapaksa.
No one should take issue with a police investigation and the country’s legal system must be allowed to do its job, he said, adding that if Abeyartne hasn’t done anything wrong, she will be released.
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