Moratuwa, Sri Lanka – The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in Sri Lanka is garnering global support in its fight against a violent attack on its members by pro-government thugs at Moratuwa University. The incident involved Dehin Wasantha and Lakshman Fernando, who were physically assaulted by members of the Moratuwa university branch of Podujana Pragathishili Sevaka Sangamaya (PPSS) on November 30. The trade union is linked to the ruling party in Sri Lanka.
Wasantha, a dedicated university non-academic worker, and Fernando, a committed party worker, were targeted while campaigning near the university for SEP public meetings. These meetings focused on the Centenary of Trotskyism, with guest speaker Joseph Kishore, National Secretary of the SEP (US). The violent attack left Wasantha with two fractured fingers and forced him to take medical leave for a month, while Fernando sustained bruises and a neck injury.
The case of the attack was brought to the Magistrate’s Court in Moratuwa on January 8, with the Magistrate referring it to a mandatory Mediation Board. Despite efforts for a settlement, Wasantha refused, demanding that the culprits face prosecution. The global response to the SEP’s campaign has led to widespread condemnation of the attack, with workers, youths, academics, and organizations sending protest letters to Sri Lankan authorities.
Supporters from the US and Sri Lanka, including individuals like Robert B. Livingston and Lawrence Moore, have expressed outrage and solidarity with the victims. The attack has sparked international concern over the protection of democratic rights and freedom of expression in Sri Lanka, with calls for accountability and justice for the perpetrators.
The SEP urges concerned individuals to voice their opposition by sending protest letters to relevant authorities, including Senior Professor N.D. Gunawardena, Vice Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa, and Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam. The demand for justice and respect for basic human rights resonates not only within Sri Lanka but also with supporters across the globe, who stand in solidarity with the victims and advocate for accountability in the face of such violent attacks.