Moratuwa, Sri Lanka – Two members of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in Sri Lanka were violently attacked by pro-government thugs, sparking outrage and condemnation from workers, youth, and organizations worldwide. Dehin Wasantha, a veteran university worker, and Lakshman Fernando, a full-time SEP party worker, were physically assaulted at the University of Moratuwa by members of a trade union affiliated with the ruling Sri Lankan Podujana Peramuna party.
The attack took place on November 30, when Wasantha and Fernando were campaigning with other party members near the university. They were promoting SEP public meetings on the Centenary of Trotskyism addressed by Joseph Kishore, the national secretary of the SEP (US). The assailants, who belong to the Podujana Pragathishili Sevaka Sangamaya (PPSS), used long wooden clubs, causing serious injuries. Wasantha suffered two fractured fingers and had to go on medical leave for nearly a month, while Fernando sustained bruises and a neck injury.
The case was brought before a judge at the Magistrate’s Court in Moratuwa on January 8, who ordered that the case be referred to a mandatory mediation board. The SEP and its sister parties of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) have launched a campaign in defense of Wasantha and Fernando, along with the SEP’s democratic right to conduct political campaigns.
Protest letters have been pouring in from various individuals and organizations around the world, denouncing the attack and expressing solidarity with the victims. One member of the SEP in the US, Nick Barrickman, denounced the attack as a clear sign of Sri Lanka’s descent into an authoritarian regime.
The brutal attack has garnered strong international condemnation, with members from other countries such as Norway, India, and the United States expressing their outrage and calling for justice for the victims. The incident has raised concerns about the erosion of democratic rights and the growing trend of violence against political dissidents in Sri Lanka.
The SEP has called on concerned individuals to register their opposition by sending protest letters to relevant authorities, highlighting the widespread outcry over the attack and the determination of supporters to defend democratic rights and freedom of expression.