The Sri Lanka Police denied any involvement in closing down the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) headquarters building on Darley Road, Colombo 10.
Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa stated that the police had only provided security to the premises until it could be opened by Party officials. The officials had locked its doors to conduct an investigation following a complaint lodged by the acting General Secretary of the party, MP Sarathi Dushmantha Mithrapala, with the Maradana Police on Friday morning.
The complaint stemmed from a set of files that went missing after a press conference held by several former office-bearers who were recently removed from their positions.
When a group of party members and office-bearers arrived at the headquarters premises on Saturday morning, they found it locked down with police denying entry. This led to a demonstration by gathered members, including former General Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, Daham Sirisena, and acting General Secretary Mithrapala, in front of the SLFP headquarters against the closure.
During the demonstration, the Acting General Secretary criticized the police for closing down the premises and restricting access even to the adjacent auditorium, which was unrelated to the complaint. He vowed to take action against the violation of their fundamental rights.
MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said that the situation surrounding the party was a conspiracy by the incumbent government to gain the party's support, and those responsible for closing the headquarters had severely damaged the party.
