Innocent commuter assaulted in railway protest
By Kasun Ganewatte and Kavinda Dhammika
April 22, 2014
A commuter at the Fort Railway Station was allegedly attacked by the police who were trying to clear the coastal railway line which was blocked by protesting substitute railway workers, yesterday.
"It is not the general public who hit me, it was the police. I was hit by a baton. I also love this country. Why are the police treating the public in such a manner?" the commuter who was seen being dragged out by the police stated, when the police officials attempted to convince him that he was attacked by civilians.
A tense situation arose yesterday evening at the Fort Railway Station, after substitute railway workers who were demanding permanent appointments, blocked the coastal railway line. Ten train services on the coastal railway line were delayed due to the blockade.
The injured commuter was on his way home when he was attacked. He has been admitted to hospital. Police arrested several protestors. The substitute workers were seen to be under the influence of alcohol. Police had also brought water cannons and a large number of officers to help them disperse the crowd and clear the railway line for the trains.
According to a trade union activist, they were engaging in the protest against the administration of the Sri Lanka Railway (SLR) for not giving permanent appointments to substitute workers attached to SLR. However, reliable sources told Ceylon Today that the General Manager of SLR, B.A.P. Ariyaratne, had attempted to negotiate with the trade unionists, but they had refused to talk.
By Kasun Ganewatte and Kavinda Dhammika
April 22, 2014A commuter at the Fort Railway Station was allegedly attacked by the police who were trying to clear the coastal railway line which was blocked by protesting substitute railway workers, yesterday.
"It is not the general public who hit me, it was the police. I was hit by a baton. I also love this country. Why are the police treating the public in such a manner?" the commuter who was seen being dragged out by the police stated, when the police officials attempted to convince him that he was attacked by civilians.
A tense situation arose yesterday evening at the Fort Railway Station, after substitute railway workers who were demanding permanent appointments, blocked the coastal railway line. Ten train services on the coastal railway line were delayed due to the blockade.
The injured commuter was on his way home when he was attacked. He has been admitted to hospital. Police arrested several protestors. The substitute workers were seen to be under the influence of alcohol. Police had also brought water cannons and a large number of officers to help them disperse the crowd and clear the railway line for the trains.
According to a trade union activist, they were engaging in the protest against the administration of the Sri Lanka Railway (SLR) for not giving permanent appointments to substitute workers attached to SLR. However, reliable sources told Ceylon Today that the General Manager of SLR, B.A.P. Ariyaratne, had attempted to negotiate with the trade unionists, but they had refused to talk.
