Watch | Vimukthi De Silva, an activist, recounts being attacked by the pro-Rajapaksa mob on Friday. “They asked me are you Tamil, and kicked me,” she says. - Reports @Meerasrini
— The Hindu (@the_hindu) May 9, 2022
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As violence continues to engulf Sri Lanka’s capital, activist Vinmukthi De Silva details her assault by a violent mob of Pro-Rajapaksa supporters.
De Silva details the unfolding scene on Galle Face Green as she tried to record the clashes between the anti-government demonstrators and the pro-Rajapaksa supporters.
“Are you Tamil?” asked a group of Sinhala youth as they confronted her.
"Where were you when the war was happening? Did you come here to f*** around?"
“This is a Sinhala Buddhist country. Don’t you remember the time of the war?” they further stated
She notes that someone in the crowd shouted "don't hit women", the mob of pro-Rajapaksa youth proceeded to kick and beat her leaving her with an injured leg that she has bandaged. De Silva further noted the Police’s apathy to the violence. The “police didn’t want to do anything” she told The Hindu. She further notes that rather than blockade the mob they removed the barriers.
There have been further reports from across the South of mobs stopping and questioning people, asking if they are Tamil.
"They asked me 'Are you Tamil? In our Sinhala-Buddhist country? (She isn't.) Where were you when the war was happening? Did you come here to f*** around?'. I got injured running away. Someone shouted 'don't hit women' or they'd have surely hammered me." #lka #srilanka #GoHomeGota pic.twitter.com/rgUYrgAg1S
— Amalini (@Amaliniii) May 9, 2022
At least three people have died during violent clashes and over 150 have been injured in Colombo.