Prez unleashing violent suppression on student dissent – SL students in 25 countries

• We vehemently condemn the brutal attacks on university  students protesting peacefully

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

A collective of Sri Lankan students studying in 25  countries said President Ranil Wickremesinghe is systematically  dismantling the democratic process in the country and unleashing violent  suppression on student dissent.   Issuing a statement, undersigned by over 150 students and  young scholars studying abroad in 25 different countries expressed their  deep concern towards the systematic violent suppression unleashed on  peaceful protests during February and March.    

“We the undersigned Sri Lankan students and young scholars  currently studying abroad express our deep concern towards the recent  systematic violent suppression unleashed on peaceful protesters by the  Sri Lankan Government.   

We vehemently condemn the brutal attacks on the university  students protesting peacefully and the military and police violently  entering the Universities of Colombo and Kelaniya premises on March  7th and 8th, respectively,” they said.   

The student collective was from the countries of Australia,  Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Finland, Norway, Sweden,  New Zealand, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Korea,  Vietnam, Poland, Portugal, Latvia, Italy, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,  Thailand and the Maldives.   

“The government of Sri Lankan led by President Ranil  Wickremesinghe has been systematically dismantling the democratic  process and institutions of the country in the recent past. 
Therefore, we strongly demand the Sri Lankan government  conduct an independent inquiry into the incidents of the military and  police forcefully entering the University of Kelaniya and Colombo. We  also invite all democratic forces in Sri Lanka to join hands to protect  the democratic rights of its citizens to dissent and free and fair  timely elections,” the statement further said.