JVP, a party that supported Rajapaksa presidency, says the government is 'hastily moving towrds an insane dictatorship'

Protests organised by the JVP in Arachchikattuwa, Chilaw, against the increasing cost of living have come under attack on Sunday and Monday.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s political ally, the JVP, has accused government politicians of being behind the attacks on their supporters.

'Insane dictatorship'

“The government is hastily going towards an insane dictatorship,” JVP parliamentary group leader, Anuara Kumara Dissanayake told journalists on Monday.

The government is hastily going towards an insane dictatorship Anura Kumara Dissanayake, MP

He accused the government of threatening media institutions and journalists to cover up the current situation in the country.

Five media organisations including the Free Media Movement (FMM) say the attacks have violated the basic human right of freedom of expression.

Left Front statement

In a statement issued on Monday, the FMM, Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), Sri Lanka Muslim Journalists Association (SLMMF), FMETU and Sri Lanka Tamil Media Association (SLTMA) have warned that Sri Lanka will face ‘disastrous consequences’ if the current trend continuous.

	Protesters were attacked with tar on Monday in Chilaw

The Left Front (LF) has accused the government of launching such attacks to prevent future protests on government’s failures.

“The only triumph left for the government is the war in the north,” the LF statement said.

Strongly condemning ‘war-mongering’ of the breakaway JVP group led by Wimal Weerawansa, MP, the LF has called on the JVP and the United National Party (UNP) to defeat ‘any oppressive measures’ by the government in the parliament.

The LF stressed that the ‘oppressive policies’ of the government can only be defeated by uniting the working class to protest against the war.