The protester, who descended after two hours on Thursday, told reporters that he had been unfairly detained and beaten by police. “My jaw hurts all over. I can’t eat or chew due to the beating. I was treated unfairly by the police,” he said, describing injuries sustained during the arrest. He added that his actions were driven by self-confidence and a desire to highlight his grievances.
According to the young man, the incident began after he left the Kelaniya temple following a period of meditation and purchased a salad. Police intercepted him and asked about his movements, after which he was arrested on January 13. He denied wrongdoing and emphasized that his family from Embilipitiya were upstanding citizens. “My parents are not drug addicts or drunkards. They are noble people. The police are wrong. I have never been beaten up by the police for no reason,” he said.
Police officers on the scene assured the young man that they would seek justice and arranged for him to receive medical attention. He was subsequently transported to a hospital in a police jeep after officers consulted with his grandmother regarding the situation.
The protest drew attention from the 1990 Emergency Ambulance Service, whose personnel were dispatched to provide first aid and ensure the demonstrator’s safety. The incident at Galle Face Pitiya Road has sparked renewed concern over police conduct and the treatment of civilians in Sri Lanka, highlighting ongoing tensions between law enforcement and citizens.
Authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the allegations of police brutality, while observers continue to monitor the young man’s recovery and the broader public response to the protest.
