Cricket heroes condemn Black Monday violence in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s star cricketers condemned the former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the government for allowing pro-government mobsters to carry out attacks on non-violent demonstrators.

On Monday, following a meeting with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the pro-government supporters turned aggressive toward non-violent demonstrators who had set up a protest camp opposite the PM’s residency Temple Trees.

“The only violence was perpetrated by your “supporters” – goons and thugs who came to your office first before going on to assault the peaceful protestors,” Kumar Sangakkara the former-left hand batsman said replying to Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tweet.

Mahela Jayawardena questioned replying to footage of government supporters attacking a protester at “GoGotaGama” as to how the attack took place while the police were watching on.

“These thugs were assembled at the prime minister’s official residence this morning and walked in numbers to assault innocent peaceful anti-government protesters.. how can this happen? Police and others just watching this,” Mahela Jayawardena said.