By Shamindra Ferdinando

Sarvapakshika Aragalakaruwo(all-party agitators), in a statement issued yesterday (27) strongly condemned the arrest of one of their key members, ‘Dhanis Ali’ by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while he was about to leave the country, in a complete new look, sans his overgrown beard and hair.

The grouping alleged that the arrest of Ali at the BIA and four other persons near the S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike statue on Tuesday (26) was part of a major government operation meant to suppress the protest movement.The grouping claimed that newly elected President Ranil Wickremesinghe was going flat out against those who made the operation against Sri Lanka’s “worst” ever President Gotabaya Rajapaksa successful. Gotabaya Rajapaksa was forced to flee the country by violent mobs pursuing him in the early hours of July 13.They asserted that the government engage in high profile operations such as the arrest made in a passenger flight as it was about to take as part its strategy to overwhelm the public.

Police headquarters said that 31-year-old Ali, a resident of Wabada, Kurunegala was under investigation over his involvement with the protest movement. Accordingly, the Fort Magistrate has issued a warrant for Ali’s arrest over the obstructing of the Finance Ministry entrance on June 20 when a group of IMF representatives was to come there, Fort Magistrate granted him bail when the police produced him in court over causing damage to public property during protest outside police headquarters on June 09, the suspect has been also wanted in connection with assault on Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) personnel at Galle Face on June 12, threatening personnel from Fort police on July 20 when a squad arrived at the S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike statue to inquire into reports of plans to damage it and seizing control of State Rupavahini on July 13 afternoon during violent protests.

The protest movement alleged that President Wickremesinghe appeared to have launched operations on several fronts to undermine the protest movement. The group identified six specific areas the government was on the offensive namely (1) create a rift between the protest movement and the military and police (2) portray the protest movement as an outfit opposed to the military and police (3) take tangible measures against the protest movement to appease SLPP lawmakers who voted for Ranil Wickremesinghe at the presidential contest (4) create public anger towards the protest movement (5) cause fear among those opposed to the government before the next round of major protest campaign and (6) stress that those who opposed the government would have to face grave consequences.

Sarvapakshika Aragalakaruwo warned President Wickremesinghe would face fate that befell Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime. They vowed to continue ongoing protest campaign regardless of the growing challenges and threats.Authoritative police and military officials said that the identities of most of those who had inspired violence since March 31 protest at ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence were now known.

The State Intelligence has briefed the government parliamentary group on Tuesday of the threat posed by ‘Aragalaya’ and its strategies meant to undermine the incumbent government. The briefing has been given when the group met at the Finance Ministry under the auspices of President Wickremesinghe and Premier Dinesh Gunawardena.Government sources said that lawmakers wanted President Wickremesinghe, the military and the police to take a tough stand and take whatever measures necessary to neutralize the threat. Sources said that the government shouldn’t retreat in the face of fresh threats made by ‘Aragalaya’ and other interested parties.