SriLanka's opposition demands parliamentary debate and an independent probe on Weliweriya killings

Sri Lanka's opposition Chief Whip John Amaratunga today demanded a debate in the parliament in regard of the deaths occurred in Weliweriya in Gampaha district in military involvement to disperse a group of people agitating for the right of safe drinking water.

Government Chief Whip Dinesh Gunawardane, Minister, said that the final decision regarding the debate may be taken at the meeting of the leaders of the parliamentary groups held today.

Delivering a special statement in the parliament today, the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe questioned why the Army was called to disperse a civilian agitation in a non-major town.

He demanded an independent investigation about the incident.

In response, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the military called to manage the violent protest had to take self defensive and civilian security measures in the context of protestors attacking the personnel with Molotov Cocktail and shooting.

Second death reported from Sri Lanka's drinking water struggle

Second death was reported on Saturday from Sri Lanka due to use of so called minimum power by military to disperse a group of villagers that was agitating for the right of safe drinking water in Weliweriya in Gampaha district.

The dead person was identified as a 19 year old youth, police media spokesman Buddhika Siriwardane said. He was in an Intensive Care Unit of Colombo National Hospital since Thursday until he passed away last night.





Earlier, a 17 year old school boy was also killed due to Army shooting.

Five more persons are still in National Hospital due to the injuries sustained as Army used 'minimum power' to disperse the protestors. 

The protest was against a Heyleys subsidiary rubber factory in Rathupaswala and the residents of 12 villages claim that the drinking water has been contaminated due to the industrial waste of this factory.