A tense situation in Kirinda, Puhulwewa area of the Devinuwara electorate on Friday night (27) has been brought under control by the Police, the Sunday Observer learns.
A personal dispute between two parties had caused a commotion in the Kirinda town on Friday. The police said that the matter had been sorted out after both parties called on to the Police station. “It was a personal dispute between two parties. Now, the area is peaceful,” the Police media division said.
As per the videos shared on social media, the dispute has occurred based on a religious place in Kirinda. “I had a long conversation with the SP of the Tangalle division regarding the Kirinda unrest. Looks like politics is a cancer that disrupts the peace,” an International Human Rights activist, Muheed Jeeran had posted on his Face book account about the incident.
In a separate video, a web journalist claimed that Matara district United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Parliamentarian and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) politician, Kanchana Wijesekera was behind the incident. He accused Wijesekera and the SLPP of trying to grab political mileage out of ethnic unrest.
However, MP Wijesekera has lodged complaints at both the CID and cyber crime division of the Police, against the web journalist, stating that information is false. Wijesekara has also planned on sending a Letter of Demand against the web journalist soon.
“As well as information about all websites, links that had been sharing this false information will be given to the cyber crime division to take action,” Wijesekara told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
“There has been a small incident in Kirinda, Puhulwella the day before yesterday. There is no political or racial background behind the incident. But some people are trying to use this to create division among the community,” the Parliamentarian said.
Meanwhile, addressing the media yesterday, UNF presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa said, “These incidents are encouraged and promoted by racist elements in society, and I think it is high time that this incipient racism is divulged to the electors. Sri Lankan people should know such actions will not enhance our national security.”
“It all boils down to the nation’s security; we must have brotherhood and excellent relationship with all sectors of our society, irrespective of religion, political persuasions, caste, creed or ethnicity. I see that particular incident as an attempt to destroy the national security of our country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Professor in Big Data Analytics and data scientist Kushan Liyanarachchi had tweeted the information he gathered on the incident yesterday. According to his findings, a tense situation between two parties had erupted when one group was celebrating Minister Sajith Premadasa receiving the party ticket to contest at the Presidential polls.
A drunken person had thrown a bottle to a religious place triggering the youth who have damaged a few homes and a vehicle belonging to the other group.
The Professor said that SLPP politician Kanchana Wijesekara has no connection with the attack while condemning the video created by the web journalist.