• The incumbent President has to take full responsibility for the tarnishing of Sri Lanka’s image

By Yohan Perera  

Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith yesterday urged the international community to influence the Sri Lankan government to conduct an independent investigation on the attack on Galle Face protesters.  “We urge the international community to force Sri Lanka to conduct an impartial and transparent investigation on the attack on Galle Face protestors,” Cardinal Ranjith said whilst highlighting that the attack was a violation of constitution.  

“There are foreign and local journalists who have been assaulted. We condemn the attacks on journalists. The incumbent President has to take full responsibility for the tarnishing of Sri Lanka’s image and for any impediment that the attack would have on the international support Sri Lanka receives from the international community,” the cardinal added.  “We vehemently condemn this attack which took place less than 24 hours after the incumbent President took office. Mr. Wickremesinghe was elected by a majority of MPs as the President and had no mandate. He had suppressed the right of expression and association. Also the attack was launched despite the assurance given by the protesters that they would leave Galle Face today. The President and the government should take the responsibility for any kind of incident that may take place as a result of yesterday’s attack,” he also said. 

• The President and the government should take the responsibility for any  kind of incident that may take place as a result of yesterday’s attack