04 June, 2011 
Funeral of Roshen Chanaka, an employee of Katunayaka Free Trade Zone (FTZ) took place at Gal-Oluwa in Minuwangoda on Saturday with military protection.Thousands of people including FTZ employees, opposition politicians, trade union members, and NGOs gathered at the funeral ceremony to pay last respects. The 24-year-old was injured during a demonstration on Monday, held to protest against the proposed private pension scheme, and later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
The body of Roshen Chanaka was taken to the Gal-Oluwa Church in Minuwangoda on Saturday morning for religious observances earlier than announced. The angered parents and relatives said that while the grave was being dug, the body had been taken to the church without advanced notice. Father of Roshan Chanaka, Quintus Ratnaweera said that he was not aware of the background under which the court order had been taken to hold funeral rites at the church. He cast doubts whether his son had been influenced by authorities to give consent to it where as it had to be done by the parents.
Roman Catholic priest of the Gal- Oluwa Church, Christopher Madurawela told media that he was acting upon the court order, and it was a special occasion to facilitate the late Roshen Chanaka. Opposition politician, Dr.Jayalath Jayawardena said that the presence of military in the Catholic Church was immoral and unethical.
Trade Unionists and Activists expressed anger and said that they were unable to hold the funeral with due respects to the late Roshen Chanaka.
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Gotabaya’s ghouls don’t spare even dead body of Roshen: army obstruct funeral proceedings: what a shame! what a sacrilege!!
(Lanka-e-News -04.June.2011 10.00PM) We are compelled to reveal with deep regret that the final funeral proceedings of young Roshen Chanaka who was ruthlessly murdered by the police faced obstruction from Rajapakse regime’s army owing to their forcible disgraceful intrusion into it.About a group of about a thousand army officers headed by a Brigadier had carried out this operation. In Sri Lanka except Muslims no other religious followers conduct final funeral rites in the morning. Yet , this morning at about 9.30 a m, this army group has forcibly carried the body of Roshan to Galmaluwa Roman catholic church. The residents of the area have objected to this use of force.
A village resident who had made preparations for his burial at the grounds , was chased away by the Army and taken over this task to which the residents of the area have raised fierce protests. Because of these protests the Army’s attempt to conclude the funeral proceedings in the morning was foiled. The residents had succeeded in postponing it to the evening .
About 25000 persons paid their last respects to dead Roshan while ten thousand attended the funeral proceedings . No politico of the Govt. attended the funeral.
In accordance with the order issued by the court , the priest in attendance conducted the ceremonies and delivered the sermon. However , something most curiously omitted by the priest was his failure to mention that Roshen died at the hands of the police due to their shooting despite the fact that this priest was standing on the scared pulpit with the cross which signifies the killing of Jesus Christ and where he is expected to speak the truth . Residents of the area stated that two relatives of Roshan Chanaka were given large sums of money each by the Rajapakse regime to silence them.
