Journalists question legitimacy of Ministry of Defence following Cabinet dissolution

In light of the troubling developments this week the Ministry of Defence held a media briefing yesterday, attended by Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Kamal Gunaratne, Army Commander Shavendra and

Navy Commander Nishantha Ulugetenne. Journalists representing local and foreign media questioned the officials on recent events including the legitimacy of the Ministry of Defence following the dissolution of Cabinet. Excerpts:

JOURNALIST: TNA MP Sumanthiran has stated that all Ministry secretaries cease to hold office when cabinet is dissolved. Your response?

KAMAL GUNARATNE: I have not requested this post. I have no desire to remain in this post without any powers to do so.

Once the Cabinet was dissolved I was given those powers again, I was appointed legally. The appointment was made after seeking advice from the Attorney General. There is nothing to hide. I have the legal powers to take decisions. I have been appointed and given the powers of the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence within the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

JOURNALIST: There are allegations that the government’s failure to implement law and order in the country has led to the continuation of violence. The government was not hesitant to harass hundreds of people who were violating curfew. But authorities had failed to prevent violent protesters attacking peaceful protests.

What is your response?

KAMAL GUNARATNE: There is a procedure that we should follow. Just because somebody is violating the curfew, we don’t want to go and shoot at people because he is also another fellow Sri Lankan citizen. Whether his intention is a good intention or a malicious intention, we can’t just kill people.

There are directions to shoot people below the knee. Okay, I will aim at the knee, but accidentally it might hit the stomach. Therefore, there is danger. We don’t want to harm any citizens of this country. That is why we wanted to implement everything step by step.

JOURNALIST: Through these reports that the former Prime Minister is being protected at the Navy base, the signal that it could send to the protesters is that the military might take the side of the political leaders. If the protests continue demanding the resignation of the President, will the military continue supporting the President, or will they allow the people’s voice?

SHAVENDRA SILVA: Of course the President of this country being elected by the people, with a vote of 6.9 million. There is a procedure in Sri Lanka, according to the Constitution we have to work. I hope that you all should have known about it.

We as the tri-forces will work according to the Constitution, and we will protect the state. That is what we are going to do, what we’ve been doing and what we will do in the future as well.

JOURNALIST: Did the intelligence apparatus fail to identify the risks leading up to the mob violence of May 9 and inform accordingly to prevent attacks on the Temple Trees?

KAMAL GUNARATNE: The Police were informed that the crowd that came to Temple Trees were en route to Galle Face, only at that time, as far as we know. That is why the Police were called to immediately prevent that. There is an inquiry into this, therefore we won’t comment on it.

JOURNALIST: Given the kind of attacks against politicians on all sides, what kind of steps would authorities take to protect politicians in future?

KAMAL GUNARATNE: The Ministry of Public Security will consider this matter seriously, and they will take necessary steps. Being the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, I’m not in a position

(to comment) because it will have to be after a comprehensive discussion between the Secretary of that ministry and the senior police officers.

JOURNALIST: There were videos posted on social media, where the Police rather than firing in the air, they were targeting various people, civilians, right at the chest level. Would you like to clarify something on that?

KAMAL GUNARATNE: We don’t fire at civilians. We start with warning shots. Warning shots mean you have the weapon, rounds are inside, aim at the sky and release one or two shots. If the mob is more violent and their intention is a malicious intention of killing our own fellow citizens, even with that Police will try their level best to shoot below the knee level. That is the procedure here. Unfortunately, it hit the stomach or something, because every policeman is not a

marksman.