Vickramabahu's attacker bailed out
Dec 05, 2016
A person who attacked Nava Sama Samaja Party leader Vickramabahu Karunarathne calling him “a traitor and should be killed” has been released on bail by the Kaduwela Magistrate.
The attack took place at a restaurant, Sonora Thalawatugoda where Dr Karunarathne was having dinner with two of his friends after his book on philosophical notes ‘Yathawadi Vimasuma’ was launched on November 24. The man who attacked him, Mirihanage Manoj Buddhika Hemachandra was released on a cash bail of Rs 200,000 on Tuesday (Nov 30 Case No B4824/ 16). Commenting on the incident, Dr Karunarathne said that the attacker has furiously shouted at him, accusing him of “selling the county to Tamils and Muslims”. He said “Last week I had a terrible experience.
Two friends, Kithsiri Alwis and Nandana Hapu Arachchi, invited me to a dinner at a reputed restaurant at Thalawatugoda. As we were seated the man in the front table walked up to me and verified my name. Having got that, he became furious. He shouted abuse claiming that I am selling the county to Tamils and Muslims, I am a traitor, and hence I should be killed. Then he attacked with his fist, but my friends covered me. One fell hard on Nandana. I telephoned Thalalangama police; when he heard police is coming he vanished with his wife and two daughters. I was told he is an executive in a well known company, Orient Finance Corporation Ltd. He was arrested and later bailed out. I indicated to SP Nugegoda that I am dissatisfied with the ruling of Kaduwela Magistrate.” The NSSP leader known-for voicing for the rights of the Tamils and Muslims said that it was a terrible and shocking experience, at a time when the country is focusing on post-war reconciliation. However, he added the mere police arrest will not be enough to neutralize the mass racist campaign led by deposed President Mahinda. “The police action alone is not enough. We have to campaign to neutralize the mad ideas spread by the fascistic group of Mahinda Rajapaksa,” Dr. Karunarathne said.
Earlier this year, the NSSP leader was summoned to the Kirillapone police station to record a statement following a complaint by the Sinhala nationalist Buddhist monk party, Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) that he burnt the national flag at the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR) in Maradana. He said that is false; the Lion flag displayed by BBS (not the Sri Lankan national flag) was only the symbol of the “Sinhala race” and therefore cannot be accepted by the other communities in the country.
