Soon After Sensational Claims of Sri Layan Authorities Issuing Shoot-On-Sight Orders on Tuesday to Quell Unrest a Day After the Island was hit by Deadly Violence and Rioting Over a Dir Economic Crisis, The Layan Government has been sought to set the record structure what is the meaning of the order.
Speaking exclusively to NDTV, Secretary of Sri Lanka for the Ministry of Defense General G. D. H. Kamal Gunaratne clarified that it was not a clear photo shoot in the vision order and that extreme steps would only be used as a final effort.
People who violate the curfew, come to demonstrations and enjoy violence are all Sri Lankan people, and so do the police and security forces. We do not want to shoot our own people," he said.
Detailing the standard operating procedure used by the State Police, he said if there was a cruel mob, the first police would ask them to dissolve by warning them that it was illegal. "If they refuse to leave, the police will fire a warning shot in the air. If they are not blocked even after that, one or two police will open shots below the knee level. If the masses are still cruel and out of control, they will call the army," he said.
About how long they plan to protect former Prime Minister and President Mahinda Rajapaksa, he said that Rajapaksa was a "respected leader" and only because some people had joined this protest against him that did not mean that he should not be protected by the Sri Lanka Constitution. "Every former president will be protected by a security contingent until his death, right? So it will be provided for him," he said.
There are reports about civilians who were killed during this massive protest. Responding to how the police will ensure that those who are fired are problem makers and not innocent civilians, Mr. Gunaratne said "Our police are quite able to understand whether he is an innocent civilian or hooligan". He claimed that police forces were very experienced and knew what someone was doing and what their intention was.
Mr. Gunaratne said the investigation was ongoing to identify cases of violence and civilian casualties and "Hooligans and killers would be taken to their duties and tried in court".
