The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka met with newly appointed president Ranil Wickremesinghe to express her “grave concern over the unnecessary and deeply troubling escalation of violence”, after an early morning raid on a protest site in the capital injured scores of demonstrators.
Julie Chung tweeted “this is not the time to crack down on citizens, but instead to look ahead at the immediate and tangible steps the Government can take to regain the trust of the people, restore stability, and rebuild the economy”.
The military raid came just hours after Wickremesinghe was sworn in as president. His first port of call yesterday was with senior military officials.
(1/2) Just met w/ President @RW_UNP to express my grave concern over the unnecessary & deeply troubling escalation of violence against protesters overnight.
The President & cabinet have an opportunity and an obligation to respond to the calls of Sri Lankans for a better future.
— Ambassador Julie Chung (@USAmbSL) July 22, 2022
US Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council Michèle Taylor warned “the world is watching the government of Sri Lanka and its response to protesters”.
“We urge authorities to uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to peaceful assembly and association,” she added.
The world is watching the government of Sri Lanka and its response to protesters. We urge authorities to uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to peaceful assembly and association. https://t.co/nQxiFQhrH0
— Ambassador Michèle Taylor (@USAmbHRC) July 22, 2022
Members of the UN Human Rights Council on Sri Lanka - Canada, Germany, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the USA and UK – also issued a joint statement this afternoon, stating they were “dismayed at the violence which took place in Galle Face last night”.
“We call for full respect of human rights and the rule of law,” the statement added.
"Freedom of expression proved essential to Sri Lanka's current transition,” added the European Union this morning. “Hard to see how restricting it severely can help in finding solutions to the current political and economic crises."
Sarah Hulton, Britain’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, tweeted earlier she was “very concerned about reports from the Galle Face protest site”.
“We have made clear the importance of the right to peaceful protest."
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