Colombo: Terming the actions of Sri Lankan authorities against peaceful protesters in Galle Face as “brutal”, agitators said they would continue to protest even if they were attacked.
Addressing a press conference, one of the protesters said, “We would like to condemn this brutal attack on very peaceful constructive protesters. We have been protesting for more than 105 days.”
The statement came after a large military group, along with police, on Friday raided the protest site near the President’s Secretariat and at the Galle Face area to clear the area of protesters. Many arrests were made.
The protesters said they were “brutally” attacked on 22 July and called it “torture”. He said he had seen police attacking protesters with weapons and said it was an attack on them.
“And we can’t understand it, because it’s inhumane because we are peaceful protestors, non-violent protesters. That’s why we condemn this kind of brutal attack on peaceful protesters. We’re doing it as a protest against love to change.” society, to get justice. And we will continue this peaceful non-violent protest.”
Meanwhile, another protester said that on 22 July he was attacked to show (President) Ranilo Wickremesinghepower of and he is the one who is in charge. “The protesters were removed from the site but after eight hours they again headed towards the premises.”
Responding to the police statement on the attack, a protester said the security personnel at the conference showed a few incidents to justify their action.
“Under no circumstances have we incited violence. But this is not the first time they (police) instigated violence against us,” he said.
“It is a democracy that Ranili The world was talking about. He talks as if he is a defender of democracy but clearly he does not want democracy. So we want to inform Ranil and the state that if you’re going to show us that democracy works, well, we’re up for that too. If losing one’s life means saving this country, then we are all ready for it.”
Another protester, who was also part of that convention, said the attack took place on July 22 and that the police force would have to take responsibility. He added, “But we know that the main person responsible for this attack is Ranil Wickremesinghe, we should call her Ranil. Rajapaksa,
Previously, the US Ambassador in ColomboThe European Union and the Human Rights Commission condemned the action taken by the Sri Lankan authorities against the protesters in Galle Face at midnight.
US Ambassador to Colombo Julie Chung took to her Twitter account on Friday and asked officials to exercise restraint and provide immediate medical attention to the injured.
“Extremely concerned about the action taken against the protesters in Galle Face at midnight. We urge the authorities to exercise restraint and provide immediate medical attention to the injured,” Ambassador Chung tweeted.
The European Union (EU) has also emphasized the importance of the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of association.
A large number of protesters confronted armed security personnel as barricades were later erected outside the premises of the Sri Lankan President’s Secretariat in Colombo.
Armed troops were deployed outside the premises of the Sri Lankan President’s Secretariat to control demonstrators protesting against the new Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The protesters are alleging that security personnel raided an anti-government sit-in camp in the capital on Friday.”
Amid the armed forces action, another protester said, “Wickremesinghe wants to destroy us, he is doing it again, but we will never give up. We want to make our country free from such lousy politics.”
Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the President of Sri Lanka on Thursday before Chief Justice Jayanta Jayasuriya in Parliament. He was elected President in the Parliament elections held on Wednesday.
Wickremesinghe got 134 votes during Wednesday’s vote following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa from the presidency last week amid severe economic turmoil in the country.
After thousands of angry protesters attacked his official residence in Colombo last week, former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country to the Maldives before flying back to Singapore. Rajapaksa had offered to resign after fleeing the country.
Sri Lanka’s economy is set for a sharp contraction due to non-availability of basic inputs for production, 80 per cent depreciation of currency since March 2022, lack of foreign reserves and the country’s failure to meet its international debt obligations.
As Sri Lanka struggles to get back on track after the election of a new president, the people of the country – facing severe economic hardship – are still uncertain about the future.
Addressing a press conference, one of the protesters said, “We would like to condemn this brutal attack on very peaceful constructive protesters. We have been protesting for more than 105 days.”
The statement came after a large military group, along with police, on Friday raided the protest site near the President’s Secretariat and at the Galle Face area to clear the area of protesters. Many arrests were made.
The protesters said they were “brutally” attacked on 22 July and called it “torture”. He said he had seen police attacking protesters with weapons and said it was an attack on them.
“And we can’t understand it, because it’s inhumane because we are peaceful protestors, non-violent protesters. That’s why we condemn this kind of brutal attack on peaceful protesters. We’re doing it as a protest against love to change.” society, to get justice. And we will continue this peaceful non-violent protest.”
Meanwhile, another protester said that on 22 July he was attacked to show (President) Ranilo Wickremesinghepower of and he is the one who is in charge. “The protesters were removed from the site but after eight hours they again headed towards the premises.”
Responding to the police statement on the attack, a protester said the security personnel at the conference showed a few incidents to justify their action.
“Under no circumstances have we incited violence. But this is not the first time they (police) instigated violence against us,” he said.
“It is a democracy that Ranili The world was talking about. He talks as if he is a defender of democracy but clearly he does not want democracy. So we want to inform Ranil and the state that if you’re going to show us that democracy works, well, we’re up for that too. If losing one’s life means saving this country, then we are all ready for it.”
Another protester, who was also part of that convention, said the attack took place on July 22 and that the police force would have to take responsibility. He added, “But we know that the main person responsible for this attack is Ranil Wickremesinghe, we should call her Ranil. Rajapaksa,
Previously, the US Ambassador in ColomboThe European Union and the Human Rights Commission condemned the action taken by the Sri Lankan authorities against the protesters in Galle Face at midnight.
US Ambassador to Colombo Julie Chung took to her Twitter account on Friday and asked officials to exercise restraint and provide immediate medical attention to the injured.
“Extremely concerned about the action taken against the protesters in Galle Face at midnight. We urge the authorities to exercise restraint and provide immediate medical attention to the injured,” Ambassador Chung tweeted.
The European Union (EU) has also emphasized the importance of the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of association.
A large number of protesters confronted armed security personnel as barricades were later erected outside the premises of the Sri Lankan President’s Secretariat in Colombo.
Armed troops were deployed outside the premises of the Sri Lankan President’s Secretariat to control demonstrators protesting against the new Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The protesters are alleging that security personnel raided an anti-government sit-in camp in the capital on Friday.”
Amid the armed forces action, another protester said, “Wickremesinghe wants to destroy us, he is doing it again, but we will never give up. We want to make our country free from such lousy politics.”
Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the President of Sri Lanka on Thursday before Chief Justice Jayanta Jayasuriya in Parliament. He was elected President in the Parliament elections held on Wednesday.
Wickremesinghe got 134 votes during Wednesday’s vote following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa from the presidency last week amid severe economic turmoil in the country.
After thousands of angry protesters attacked his official residence in Colombo last week, former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country to the Maldives before flying back to Singapore. Rajapaksa had offered to resign after fleeing the country.
Sri Lanka’s economy is set for a sharp contraction due to non-availability of basic inputs for production, 80 per cent depreciation of currency since March 2022, lack of foreign reserves and the country’s failure to meet its international debt obligations.
As Sri Lanka struggles to get back on track after the election of a new president, the people of the country – facing severe economic hardship – are still uncertain about the future.