Leading GotaGoGama activist arrested
Accused of entering SLRC and attempting to disrupt scheduled programming
COLOMBO – Dhaniz Ali, a leading GotaGoGama protest activist, was arrested by the CID while trying to leave for Dubai on a flight from the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake.
Ali is accused of entering the state-owned Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and attempting to disrupt telecasts on July 13.
Reports quoting the police media unit said there was an arrest warrant against Ali. However, a video circulating on social media showed CID officers attempting to arrest Ali while inside the plane despite the passengers on board protesting against the move.
Earlier, the Sri Lankan protester had said they held the protests peacefully and the ones who damaged the properties belonged to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Clarifying over the violence that was perpetuated in Sri Lanka, the protestor added, “Protestors did not damage any properties. All goons who damaged the properties belong to Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Ranil Wickremesinghe’s house was set on fire but it was not by us but by PM’s guy… what we believe.”
Meanwhile, the government on Tuesday announced Parliament would convene on Wednesday (27) for the first session under new President Ranil Wickremesinghe and will approve the state of emergency imposed over a week ago to quell social unrest.
Wickremesinghe announced the state of emergency on July 17 after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled Sri Lanka to escape a popular uprising against his government’s economic mismanagement.
The veteran politician was appointed interim president following Rajapaksa’s departure to the Maldives and then to Singapore amid unprecedented anti-government protests.
Parliament last Wednesday (20) elected Wickremesinghe, an ally of Rajapaksa, as the successor to Rajapaksa, who resigned after reaching Singapore. It was the first time in 44 years that Sri Lanka’s Parliament directly elected a president.
The house will meet to approve the state of emergency imposed on July 17, Parliament’s Communications Office announced.
In terms of the law, the state of emergency must be approved by Parliament within 14 days of its imposition. The emergency regulations empower police and the military to arrest and detain individuals and carry out searches at private properties.
According to government sources, talks are also underway to expand the current 18-member Cabinet and form an all-party government.
-Agencies/ENCL