Chilaw Funeral Held Under Tight Security

Text and Picture By our Puttalam correspondent

 The funeral of the fisherman in Chilaw who was killed by police fire last week, was held yesterday under tight security.

Anthony Warnkulasuriya (35) a father of two, was killed while he took part in a protest against the fuel price hike announced by the government.

Over 10,000 people turned up to witness the funeral which was held at the Catholic burial grounds in Chilaw.

The police, STF and riot squad was on standby in the Chilaw town to ensure that peace was maintained. The funeral however went ahead free of any violence.

Government and opposition politicians, including UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, paid their last respects to the slain fisherman before his funeral yesterday.

The wife of the fisherman, Niluka Sudharshini who was employed in the Middle East as a domestic, arrived in the country on Friday and was taken home to attend the funeral with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau.

Meanwhile, the entire Chilaw town was at a virtual standstill over the last few days with fish stalls also shut as a mark of protest over the death of the fisherman.

Amidst fears of violence breaking out during the funeral, the police obtained a court order from the Chilaw Magistrate for the family to ensure the funeral is conducted peacefully.

Earlier there was an attempt by the police to hold the funeral on Friday with the consent of the family but family members had refused to accede to the request.