Seeking intervention to demand GoSL to quit repression on peaceful protests Activists handover communiqué to top ten foreign missions in Colombo

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By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

A group of media and civil society activists yesterday handed over a communiqué to ten leading foreign missions in Colombo including the United Nations office, seeking their intervention to demand the Government of Sri Lanka to stop repression against peaceful protests.   

The communiqué had been undersigned by 150 individual civil society activists and by 75 organizations, trade unions and networks including the journalist groups, the Free Media Movement (FMM) and Sri Lanka Young Journalists Association (SLYJA).   

It was handed over to the representatives of the foreign missions of India, USA, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Australia, Norway, UK, UN and the European Union simultaneously yesterday afternoon as part of the collective effort by the aforesaid organisations scheduled for November 15th.   
A representative for the action committee told the Daily Mirror that the two chief motives behind handing over the communiqué were to request to intervene and demand the government to release the two PTA detained students activists Wasantha Mudalige and Galwewa Siridhamma Thera and to quit state sponsored repression on peaceful protests.   

The communiqué stated “We, the undersigned civil society organisations, trade unions and human rights activists from Sri Lanka, unequivocally condemn the violent repression of dissent by the Sri Lankan State, and the blatant denial of the people’s freedoms of expression and association.   

Sri Lankan authorities have responded to peaceful protests and legitimate demands for a responsible and accountable government, through violence and legal reprisals. We are concerned by the systematic use of force to disperse and punish protesters, and legal persecution, including arbitrary arrest and detention as a form of reprisal. We are especially alarmed by the use of anti-terror law – the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) against protesters, despite assurances to the international community of a moratorium on its use.   

We appreciate your support in demanding for the immediate release of Wasantha Mudalige and Ven. Galwewa Siridhamma, by the Government of Sri Lanka, prior to the expiry of their detention orders on 18 November, 2022. We call on the international community to ensure an end to this targeted persecution of student leaders and activists, and that there be no extension to their 90 day detention order under the PTA,” it stated.