Sri Lanka allows non-violent protests
COLOMBO:SRI Lanka’s new President Ranil Wickremesinghe told diplomats this week that non-violent protests against his government will be allowed to continue, including in the commercial capital Colombo, his office said in a statement on Sunday.
In a pre-dawn raid on Friday, hundreds of security personnel dismantled part of an antigovernment protest camp outside the presidential secretariat, raising fears of a wider crackdown by Wickremesinghe who was sworn in a day earlier.
“President Ranil Wickremesinghe has reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to upholding the rights of peaceful, non-violent assembly,” his office said in a statement, describing a meeting with Colombo-based envoys.
“The Diplomats were also briefed on the measures being taken to ensure that non-violent protests were allowed to proceed within the city without endangering property or lives.”
Police spokesman Nihal Talduwa said protesters were free to continue their demonstrations at a designated site near the presidential office.
“They can remain at the official protest site. The government may even open a few more places for demonstrators in the city,” Talduwa said on Sunday.
Sri Lanka’s besieged presidential office will reopen on Monday, police said, days ater antigovernment demonstrators were flushed out in a military crackdown that triggered international condemnation.
“The office is ready for reopening from Monday,” said a police official Sunday, who declined to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
“The siege of the secretariat, which lasted since May 9, has now been lited.”
Police said forensic experts had been called in to check damage to the Presidential Secretariat and gather evidence.
The military operation to clear the secretariat building and its immediate surroundings came less than 24 hours ater Wickremesinghe was sworn in and just before a new cabinet was appointed.
The economic crisis which fuelled the protest campaign shows no sign of easing, but the government announced Sunday it would reopen schools which had remained shut for the beter part of a month.
The education ministry said students and teachers will be asked to return to school only for three days each week as transport is still hampered by a national fuel shortage.