Shooting at Rathupaswala, Weliweriya, August 2013

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Details

Date: 1 August 2013, according to Ada Derana
What: Army personnel fired on villagers protesting water pollution they blamed on chemicals from a glove-making factory
Toll: Three killed; Daily FT reports the indictment alleges serious injuries to 12 others, while Ada Derana says 45 were injured
Status: The Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar ordered the four accused acquitted and released on 17 May 2024; Ada Derana gave no reasons and reported no appeal
Appears on: Communal violence and state force, 2013 to 2019

Connections (2)

Sri Lanka Army / Troops fired on villagers at / Shooting at Rathupaswala, Weliweriya, August 2013
- Daily FT reports that four army personnel were indicted for causing three deaths and serious injuries to 12 others when troops fired on protesters at Rathupaswala, Weliweriya, in early August 2013.12 Sep 2019 · Daily FT · Indictments filed against four in Rathupaswala shooting incident
- Ada Derana reports that army personnel fired on villagers protesting a factory they said had polluted their groundwater, that three people were killed, and that the court ordered the four accused released.17 May 2024 · Ada Derana · Four army personnel acquitted over 2013 Rathupaswala shooting
Anura Deshapriya Gunawardena / Charged with ordering troops to open fire; acquitted, May 2024 / Shooting at Rathupaswala, Weliweriya, August 2013
- Ada Derana reports that the Attorney General’s 11 September 2019 indictment accused the then-Brigadier and three other military persons of ordering troops to open fire, and that the court ordered the acquittal and release of the four accused on 17 May 2024.17 May 2024 · Ada Derana · Four army personnel acquitted over 2013 Rathupaswala shooting
- Daily FT reports that the fourth accused was the officer in charge of the army contingent and “gave orders to open fire”, that three accused handled the weapons, and that the accused were also charged with collecting spent cartridges and concealing evidence.12 Sep 2019 · Daily FT · Indictments filed against four in Rathupaswala shooting incident