The Suwaseriya, free ambulance service could not enter the Galle Face protest site despite requests from injured persons for assistance as the Police did not allow anyone past the barricades, Chairman Dumindra Rathnayake said.
The armed forces have surrounded the area covering the Presidential Secretariat and the vicinity, following a crackdown on protesters on Friday.
Several protesters are reportedly trapped inside the barricades, with some injured and unable to obtain medical assistance, while the armed forces are also reportedly not allowing them to go past the barricades.
Clarifying media reports Dumindra Rathnayake said they had not turned down requests, but instead, the armed forces had not allowed anyone to enter the protest site.
In a Tweet, he said that the ambulance service had received calls from within the Galle Face protest site and they had informed them that they are unable to send ambulances past the Police Barricades.
“We asked the injured to be brought outside the barricades,” Dumindra Rathnayake added.
Stating that no one was allowed past the barricades by the Police, he pointed out that it was also important to note that the last time ambulances were sent they were attacked.
“Those ambulances are out of service hampering our services extended to the public with medical emergencies. Today we respond to over 1600 calls daily for medical emergencies. One damaged ambulance which has to be put out of service risks the lives of at least 50 persons,” he revealed.
The Suwaseriya Chairman added that it was his responsibility to protect the staff and the vehicles so that they continue to provide service to the nation. (NewsWire)