Further, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa admitted before Parliament that he did not attend the National Security Council meeting that had been convened after the Rambukkana incident and stated he was at fault.80 2.9 Developments on 23 April 2022 2.9.1 Funeral of Chaminda Lakshan The final rites and funeral of Chaminda Lakshan, the victim of the shooting at Rambukkana were performed at his residence. The IGP had reportedly requested the Defence Secretary to deploy the tri-forces to the area until the conclusion of funeral proceedings.81 2.9.2 SSP of Kegalle police station admits to giving orders to open fire at protesters During the court proceedings, the SSP in charge of Kegalle affirmed to the magistrate that he had first ordered the police to fire tear gas at the protesters who were near the fuel bowser, blocking its path. According to him, firing of tear gas had allowed police to prevent the two fuel bowsers from catching fire as attempts were being made to set fire to two vehicles in the vicinity. He stated he had first ordered police personnel to fire in the air when the protesters were reportedly attempting to set fire to a filling station, and the afterwards he had instructed the police to shoot below the knee to prevent major damage, after the protesters reportedly continued their attempts to start a fire. He also stated that the orders given by him, as the senior most officer at the scene at the time, were legal. During the proceedings, the investigation team led by the SSP of Sitawaka police area said that statements were recorded from fifty-one civilians and CCTV footage from the site had been reviewed. Investigations disclosed that the Kegalle police station had issued four T-56 firearms with thirty rounds of ammunition for each weapon to control the situation. All of the weapons in question were presented in the court. The magistrate asked police officers whether the person suspected of attempting to set fire to the fuel bowser had been located, but police officers responded they had not yet been able to find him. The ruling with regard to the death of Chaminda Lakshan is scheduled to be delivered on the 27th of April.82 “Called to Security Council but did not go ”Lankadeepa, 22 April 2022 https://www.lankadeepa.lk/news/%E2%80% 99%E2%80%99%E0%B6%86%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%9A%E0%B7%8A%E0%B7%82%E0%B6%9A-%E0%B6%B8%E0%B6 %AB%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%A9%E0%B6%BD%E0%B6%BA%E0%B6%A7-%E0%B6%9A%E0%B7%90%E0%B6%B3%E0%B 7%80%E0%B7%96%E0%B7%80%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%8A-%E0%B6%9C%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%BA%E0%B7%9A-%E0% B6%B1%E0%B7%91%E2%80%99%E2%80%99/101-611891 81 ‘Final rites of Rambukkana police shooting victim performed today’ Ada Derana, 23 April 2022. http://www.adaderana.lk/news/81993/final-rites-of-rambukkana-police-shooting-victim-performed-today 82 ‘Kegalle SSP admits to giving orders to open fire at protesters’ Ada Derana, 23 April 2022. http://www.adaderana. lk/news/81991/kegalle-ssp-admits-to-giving-orders-to-open-fire-at-protesters 80 22