Mobs threatened the group of UNP MPs
that undertook an observation tour of Mattala international airport
today (17), said MP, attorney Ajith P. Perera, a member of the group.
The group of MPs is to make submissions
to parliament regarding the expenses for the Hambantota port and Mattala
international airport.
MP Perera said they had to abandon the inspection when around 100 persons threatened his group at the airport.
Other members of the UNP group were Nalin Bandara, Eran Wickramaratne, Ajith Mannapperuma and R. Yogarajan.
According to our correspondents, mobs
had manhandled the MPs and threw eggs at them near the administrative
building of the port and also booed at and threatened the group as well
as journalists present at Mattala.
Hambantota UPFA mayor Eraj Ravindra
Fernando had been among those who had led the mobs, and armed with a
pistol, he had ambushed the UNP MPs and the journalists.
Policemen deployed at the airport and the port had not mediated, said the correspondents.
I never carried a pistol - Hambantota Mayor
While denying he was carrying a pistol in his hand during the incident
in Hambantota today Hambantota Mayor Eraj Ravindra Fernando rejected
claims that he was behind the attack in Magampura.
Mr. Fernando told Daily Mirror that he was sent by MP Namal Rajapaksa to
look into the situation. “Mr. Rajapaksa had got to know of the earlier
incident at the Mattala Airport and told me to go to the Magampura Port
to try and avoid any commotion that might prop up there and I heeded
this request,” he said.
He said a clash had begun between the UNP MPs and the angry staff and
the villagers by the time he reached the port. “I had to intervene to
allow the MPs to get into the bus and got hit by an egg in the process,”
said Mr. Fernando.
According to Mr. Fernando, another crowd had approached the bus in which
the UNP MPs were traveling and had attacked the passengers. “I then
rushed in and dispersed the crowd,” he said.
“The allegation made by the UNP MPs is absurd; I even went and wished
UNP MP Ajith Perera by offering my hand only to have him rudely push my
hand away,” he said.
It was only a toy pistol: Hambanthota Mayor
Hambantota Mayor Eraj Feranado today
claimed it was a toy pistol that he carried when he rushed to the scene
to protect the UNP MPs who were being attacked by some villagers and
staff of the Hambantota Harbour.
“I went to the scene on receiving a call from UNP MP Nalin Jayamaha
asking me to go there. It was I, who protected the UNP MPs from the
angry crowd and helped them to leave unharmed,” Mr. Fernando claimed.
I never asked Eraj to go there - Namal Rajapaksha
Hambantota District parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa today denied claims
by Hambantota Mayor Eraj Fernando that he had asked Mr. Fernando to
intervene in the crisis situation that arose during the visit of a group
of UNP MPs to Hambantota yesterday.
“I never asked Mr. Fernando to go and look into the situation that arose
in Hamabantota and I didn’t know anything about it. I was in the middle
of a training session with the rugby team in Trincomalee,” Mr. Rajapksa
told Daily Mirror online.
Ready to resign - Hambanthota Mayor
Hambantota Mayor Eraj Fernando says that he is prepared to resign from his post anytime, if the President asks him to do so.
Speaking on yesterday's (April 17) incident
where a group of UNP MPs were assaulted while on an inspection tour of
the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, Fernando says that he had
arrived at the scene to provide protection for the UNP MPs.
Noting that he had picked up a pistol from
someone nearby, Fernando said it was a toy pistol taken with the
intention of dispersing those who disturbed the MPs.
Despite his good intentions, he had ended up in trouble, the Hambantota Mayor added.
He further said that he was acting on the instructions of MP Namal Rajapaksa.
However, the manner in which Fernando had
arrived at the scene with a pistol in hand was recorded in video footage
of journalists.
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