Nod given for use of lethal force

The Armed Forces had been ordered to use lethal force if it is necessary to protect public property, key installations, vulnerable points and human lives, the Army announced yesterday.Issuing a statement the Army said that there had been no serious clashes between protesters and security force personnel until 09 July and that all Heads of the Armed Forces and the Police during meetings with the acting President and Prime Minister, Speaker of the Parliament and Political Party leaders, had urged them to resolve the current political crisis as soon as possible.

However, certain sections of the protesters had deviated from the non-violent approach and tried to storm the Parliament complex as well as the Speaker’s official residence, the Army said.They also destroyed Police barricades using heavy machinery brought in there in an attempt to take control of the Parliament complex. Parliament is the sole legislative body which can exercise the sovereignty of the people in conformity with Constitutional provisions.By 7.00 pm on Wednesday (13), helmets and two T-56 weapons with ammunition had been snatched from the army, and a dozen Army personnel had sustained injuries. Two of them had been admitted to the National Hospital and the Colombo Army Hospital for emergency treatment. The Police have been alerted to the loss of these two T-56 weapons.Despite provocations, the troops had used minimum force and brought the situation under control, the Army Headquarters said.