SL cricketers condemn firing on Rambukkana protesters

Colombo: Sri Lanka's cricket icons slammed the police firing on the protesters seeking the country's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation amid price rise.

Former skipper Mahela Jayawardena took to twitter to condemn the firing. "If the people were violent and damaging public property they can be arrested but no excuse to shoot at them? Is this democracy? Is this law of the land? Who ever responsible for this must be bought to justice… SL police shame on you," he tweeted.

If the people were violent and damaging public property they can be arrested but no excuse to shoot at them? Is this democracy? Is this law of the land? Who ever responsible for this must be bought to justice… SL police shame on you… https://t.co/ufh4ETowsk

— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) April 19, 2022

His longtime teammate Kumar Sangakkara also condemned the incident. "Using lethal force against unarmed protestors is unconscionable. Inexcusable. The first responsibility of the police is to protect lives of people. Such a shameful instance of brutality," the former Sri Lankan team skipper said.

Using lethal force against unarmed protestors is unconscionable. Inexcusable. The first responsibility of the police is to protect lives of people. Such a shameful instance of brutality.

— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) April 19, 2022

"We deplore the dastardly and cowardly act in Rabukanna today with irreparable loss of life. May he attain the supreme bliss of nibbana," former Sri Lankan great Sanath Jayasuriya said in a tweet.

We deplore the dastardly and cowardly act in Rabukanna today with irreparable loss of life . May he attain the supreme bliss of nibbana pic.twitter.com/b7AGIApp6G

— Sanath Jayasuriya (@Sanath07) April 19, 2022

Earlier in the day, Police confirmed of opening fire at the protesters, killing at least one and injuring 10.

NewsWire quoted the police as saying that the protesters in Rambukkana had attempted to set fire to a fuel bowser.

People had blocked the railway tracks near the Rambukkana railway crossing for over 8 hours over fuel price hike. (UNI)