Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa has condemned the police dispersing a group of protesters at the Galle Face area today (9), held to commemorate the lives lost during the ‘Aragalaya’ protests.

“It is heartbreaking to see this young mother & child being treated like this. This must stop.” He said via a tweet today.

He further said that the government has repeatedly abused its power and neglected the very people they are meant to protect.

The organization ‘The Feminist Collective for Economic Justice’ also condemned the conduct of the police today while dispersing peaceful protesters at the Galle Face today.

“We witnessed in horror as a mother and her child were violently dragged away by the police and a father retreat with his child from police advancing in riot gear” it said in a statement.

“We demand the ceasing of all such illegal, illegitimate and brutal acts by the state.” The statement further read.

Peaceful protestors gathered today at the Galle Face green area were dispersed by the police, creating a tense situation. Visuals shared in social media showed the police using force to remove protestors, some of whom were carrying children. (NewsWire)