COLOMBO: The newly-elected Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he reaffirms the country's commitment to upholding the rights of peaceful, non-violent assembly, amidst international condemnation of violent attacks on anti- government protesters, and said there are reserved locations around Colombo city for public protests.
He gave the assertion to Colombo-based diplomats while detailing the removal of the protesters who had been illegally occupied the Presidential Secretariat.
He declared that the government would uphold both Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 14 (1) (b) of the Sri Lankan Constitution, which covers the rights to peaceful assembly.
Wickremesinghe, who was elected as President with majority of the former Rajapaksa party, said that the directions given by the American Civil Liberties Union stated that protesters were not allowed to block government buildings and interfere with other purposes the property was designed for.
Soon after the Sri Lankan military and police launched violent attacks that injured nearly 50 people, including protestors, attorneys, and journalists, Ms.Julie Chung vehemently denounced the state-sponsored assault.
Instead of focusing on the immediate and concrete actions the government can take to win back the public's trust, restore stability, and revive the economy, she tweeted, "Now is not the time to crack down on citizens." She described the vicious attacks as a "unnecessary and very alarming escalation of violence against protestors" when she met Wickremesinghe on Friday.
Wickremesinghe has told diplomats that peaceful protests are permitted to take place within the city without threatening people or property. Four locations, including an open-air theatre in a public area, two playgrounds, and a public building, have been designated for peaceful protests.
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