New Pressure On The New Government Of Sri Lanka After The Attack On Peaceful Protesters

The new government of Sri Lanka faced renewed pressure on Saturday from the international community, human rights organizations, and the opposition after an attack on peaceful protestors. Organizations in the country and the world requested President Ranil Vikram Singhe to immediately order the security forces not to use force against peaceful protesters. Sri Lanka's security forces forcibly dispersed anti-government protesters camping outside the President's Office in Colombo in the early hours of Friday on the orders of the beleaguered island nation's new President Wickremesinghe.

Protesters have been camping outside the presidential office for months demanding the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his key aide Wickremesinghe, who fled the country on July 13. The protesters have blamed Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe for the mismanagement of the economy, which has put 22 million people in the country in jeopardy. The opposition has urged newly-appointed Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to convene Parliament on Monday to discuss the attack on peaceful protesters by security forces and the current situation in the country.

Security forces also attacked journalists and lawyers
During the action on Friday, security forces also attacked two journalists and two lawyers. The authorities have also arrested 11 people, including protesters and lawyers. Leader of the Opposition in Sri Lanka Sajith Premadasa has already expressed concern over the attack on the protesters. He tweeted on Friday, "No one can deny that excessive force was used and it was unnecessary. This inhuman act cannot be justified, the law must be obeyed by all."

warning from the European Union
On Saturday, he once again tweeted that the government should ensure that Friday's violence does not recur. He also pointed out that the EU's warning to the Wickremesinghe government is alarming across Sri Lanka, as GSP is the most invaluable for the country's exports. Premadasa's tweet comes after the European Union's Council on Friday made a strongly worded statement that the 27-member group expects the new Sri Lankan government to fully comply with its GSP commitments.

use of force to disperse the protesters
Hana Singer-Hamdy, the UN's Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, has also expressed concern over the use of force to disperse protesters in Galle Face. Singer-Hamdy said on Twitter that journalists and human rights defenders have the right to monitor the demonstrations and that their work should not be disrupted. Human Rights Watch, a global rights organization, said President Wickremesinghe should immediately order security forces to stop all illegal use of force against protesters. It also demanded the release of all those arbitrarily detained and the prosecution of those responsible for the misbehavior.

Human Rights Commission condemned the raid
Meenakshi Ganguly, director of South Asia at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement, "Just a day after taking office, President Vikramsinghe attacked peaceful protesters in the heart of Colombo by security forces. Saw the brutal attack done." Sri Lanka's Human Rights Commission also condemned the raid and said the brutal attack on "peaceful protesters" was a complete violation of fundamental rights. US and British diplomats in Colombo have also expressed concern. US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung tweeted, "We urge the authorities to exercise restraint and provide immediate medical attention to the injured." British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Sarah Hulton said: "We have made clear the importance of the right to peaceful protest." Sri Lanka needs around US$5 billion in the next six months to meet the basic needs of its 22 million people.