The ‘cowardly attack’ on Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri is a reminder of the kind of political culture that people thought they had defeated on the 8th of January 2015, Federation on University Teachers’ Association stated in a statement to the media on Saturday.

Dr. Dewasiri, former Chairman and current Media Spokesman of FUTA was attacked by a group near a May Day rally in Kirulapone. FUTA said that this showed the lack of respect for political dissent and use of violence and complete intolerance of political opposition.

“It is extremely unfortunate, that these elements are allowed to behave as if nothing has changed. It is even more unfortunate, that they are provided a space in which to vent their hatred and intolerance and in fact are even encouraged to continue to behave in this manner, by elected representatives” the statement further said.

“As much or even more as we condemn the mob which engaged in this attack, we need to condemn the politics which engenders this kind of behavior,” FUTA said. The statement went on to say that “it is the venomous political ideology spewed out by those who are no longer in power that led to this attack.”

FUTA also said that its members cannot be intimidated by such attacks and added that FUTA will continue to support all endeavours to ensure that this country strives towards the political reforms which the people voted for on the 8th of January 2015.