Sri Lanka – Civil Society Statement on attacks and reprisals against peaceful protesters…

28th July, 2022

Sri Lanka – Civil Society Statement on attacks and reprisals against peaceful protesters

We, the undersigned individuals and organizations strongly condemn the ongoing attacks

including violence, false labelling and legal reprisals against unarmed peaceful protesters

by the Sri Lankan government. We call for an immediate end to reprisals against those

exercising their constitutionally protected rights to advocate for change.

We are extremely concerned by disturbing developments of abduction, arrest, intimidation,

and reprisals against protesters that have been ongoing and increased over the past

several days. On 25th July, media reported that Colombo Magistrate Court had issued a

travel ban on Fr. Jeevantha and several other prominent human rights defenders involved

in the protests and on 27th July, a church was visited by local police, who had told the

priest resident there that they had received orders from Colombo to arrest Fr. Jeevantha.

On 26th July, a person involved in protests at the Galle Face was arrested from a flight

that was about to leave from the Bandaranaike International Airport, after he had legally

cleared immigration. Uniformed police officers and reasons for arrest was only given after

protest by fellow passengers.

On 27th July, Veranga Pushpika, an active protester at the Galle Face, a former student

activist and journalist, was abducted from a bus in broad daylight by men in civil. Police

had later acknowledged his arrest, but not given clear indication of his whereabouts to

lawyers and the Human Rights Commission for several hours. Also on 27th July, four

protesters who had handed over to the police large amounts of money found at the

President’s House on 9th July were also arrested. Police had tried to obstruct lawyers from

meeting these arrested persons. The same day (27 July) persons in civil claiming to be

policemen had visited office of “Xposure News”, demanded the security guard to identify

persons in photos and to see CCTV footage and monitored the entrance for around one

hour. Xposure News had provided extensive coverage of the raid on Galle Face protest

site and violence in nearby places and one of their journalists was amongst the journalists

attacked in the early hours of 22nd July. Also on 27th July, a complaint had been made by

the Young Journalists Association to the Human Rights Commission about imminent arrest

of investigative journalist and human rights defender Tharindu Uduweragedera, who was

summoned for questioning by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) few weeks back.

The protests, on-going since around March 2021, as a result of the economic crisis are

due to increasing public realization that the causes of the severe economic crisis leading

to shortages of basic essentials including fuel, power, food and medicines are inextricable

linked to government mismanagement and corruption. Hence, the protests, which have

largely been peaceful, demand accountability and a change in the system of governance.

The state response has been disproportionate use of force, threats, intimidation and legal

reprisals against protesters and those believed to be leading or organizing the protests.

The call for accountability and redress by victims and activists, and the corresponding

state repression are not new to Sri Lanka – for years, survivors and human rights activists

especially in the North and East of the country have been seeking justice and redress

have been subject to violent repression.

On 21 July 2022, Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the Executive President of Sri

Lanka. The appointment of Ranil Wickramasinghe as acting president and subsequently

president, has led to increased repression of protests, protesters and those supporting

protests. Ranil Wickremesinghe ascended to power following the resignation of President

Gotabaya Rajapaksa who fled the country following protests that took place on 9 July.

Wickremesinghe, who did not win his seat in the General Election in 2020 but entered

Parliament on the sole national list seat secured by the United National Party (UNP). Prior

to his appointment as Prime Minister he praised the protests and following his appointment

as Prime Minister in May 2022 by Gotabaya Rajapaksa assured protection to those

protesting. However, since his appointment as President, Ranil Wickremesinghe has

launched a campaign of deliberate mis- and disinformation, violence, negative labeling,

and legal reprisals against protesters and civil society actors.

While he was Acting President he labeled protesters as “fascist” and “violent”; a trend that

has continued since. Less than 24 hours after taking over as President, peaceful and

unarmed protesters at the protest site in Colombo and in its environs including activists,

journalists, LGBTIQ+ community, and people living with disabilities were brutally attacked

by military, and men in unidentified uniforms; which included the assault of a BBC

journalist by men in civilian clothing who were accompanying the armed forces. Tents and

other properties belonging to protesters were destroyed and stolen. Protesters, including

those injured, were not allowed to leave the site for several hours. Ambulances,

journalists, lawyers, religious leaders were not allowed to reach the Galle Face. Lawyers,

journalists and those videoing and photographing were also beaten, subjected to cruel,

inhuman and degrading treatment and arrested. Several protest sites outside Colombo

have also been attacked and other protest sites have been pressured to withdraw by the

police. Such action could not have taken place without the knowledge and sanction of the

highest authority. It is the President, as the Commander-in-Chief and the person who

declared the State of Emergency, and the Commanders of the Tri Forces who bear

ultimate responsibility for the attack.

The attack on 22 July took place while Sri Lanka is under a state of emergency

promulgated by Wickremasinghe under Government Gazette No. 2289/40 under the

Public Security Ordinance Chapter 40, empowering the military to undertake arrests,

interrogate and detain persons as well as clear persons from public places. The

declaration of the state of emergency itself is questionable and does not adhere to

international standards that regulate the declaration and maintenance of a state of

emergency. Further, many powers that should be exercised by the judiciary or should be

subject to judicial oversight have been granted to the military without any independent

oversight creating room for arbitrary and abusive use of the Regulations which violate

many fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. Declaration of emergency sent a

chilling political message of intolerance of dissent followed by draconian emergency

regulations, that can severely restrict and violate freedom of expression, assembly,

movement and lead to arbitrary arrests and prolonged detentions. The president’s decision

to declare emergency has been now been ratified by parliament, indicating that both the

executive and legislature are now on repressive path.

In context of the climate of mis- and disinformation perpetuated by the government, it is

critical to note the protesters had already handed over all buildings, except the Presidential

Secretariat occupied following the protests on 9 July. A decision to vacate the Presidential

Secretariat on the afternoon of 22 July had already been communicated publicly and

reported widely in the media. Hence, the use of violence to remove persons from the site

is an act of brutality aimed at creating a climate of fear and cannot be justified. While the

police have justified the violent action by pointing to a court order that prevents a specific

individual and his followers from a 50-metre radius of the statue of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike

statute at the site, the violence took place at sites several metres away from the main

protest site. Moreover, video evidence clearly shows force was not used by the armed

forces to enforce a court order or in self-defence because they approached or chased

persons and brutally assaulted them. Hence, it was an attempt on the part of the state to

escalate conflict and has resulted in increasing instability in the country, for which the

government and Wickremasinghe as President are responsible. It should be noted that

the attack was carried out at night without warning, and protestors fled leaving behind

personal possessions, in addition to books from the public library at GGG.

We condemn outright the violence against peaceful protesters. We especially condemn the

labeling and mis- and disinformation against those the state portrays as ‘leading and

organizing’ protests despite the fact the protests do not have leadership. Despite this civil

society activists, pro-democracy campaigners, journalists, human rights lawyers, and

clergy have been attacked, arrested and labeled as violent fascist elements by the state in

an attempt to suppress dissent. The language used by the government enables a culture

of violence and could escalate the on-going political crisis. The most concerning and

insidious strategy used by the state is the (ab)use of the law in an arbitrary and

disproportionate manner to curtail citizens from exercising their fundamental rights.

We stand in solidarity with the protesters and those who are currently subject to various

legal sanctions. We call for accountability for violence against protesters, including on 9

May and 22 July 2022. Legal cases pending against civic activists and sanction including

travel bans/confiscation of travel documents of protesters and activists must be

immediately rescinded.

Peaceful dissent is essential to sustaining democracy and, in context of the current crisis,

international credibility. Strengthening political stability requires adherence to the rule of

law and dialogue, not repression. The Sri Lankan state and the Wickremasinghe

government must immediately cease the attacks on protesters and civic activists and

those perpetrating violence against protestors should be held to account. Peaceful protest

and defending human rights are not crimes. The government must remember and respect

this.

Signatories;

Individuals

1. Abiramy Sivalogananthan 

2. Ainslie Joseph – Convenor, People’s Movement for Good Governance 

3. Amali Wedagedara, Feminist Activist 

4. Amalini de Sayrah

5. Ambika Satkunanathan 

6. Ameer Faaiz

7. Aruni John

8. Ashila Dandeniya

9. B. Gowthaman

10. Bibiladeniye Mahanama Thero

11. Bishop Duleep de Chickera

12. Bishop Kenneth Fernando

13. Bishop Kumara Illangasinghe

14. Brian Bartholomeusz

15. C. Tozer

16. Catherine Mack 

17. Chami Samaraweera

18. Chamila Thushari 

19. Chandrika De Silva – Freelance Journalist 

20. Channaka Jayasinghe

21. Christopher Stephen

22. D. Viboo Balakrishnan

23. Damaris Wickremesekera 

24. Deanne Uyangoda

25. Deborah Philip

26. Deekshya Illangasinghe

27. Dilrukshi Handunnetti

28. Dinushika Dissanayake, Attorney-at-Law

29. Dr. Natasha Balendra

30. Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu

31. Dr. S.B. Dhanapala

32. Dr. Shermal Wijewardene 

33. Dr. Vinoth Ramachandra

34. Dushyanthi Mendis – University of Colombo

35. Dylan Perera 

36. Farah Mihlar

37. Ganga Jeewani Weliwatta – Actress, Poet, Social Activist

38. Geethika Dharmasinghe – Colgate University

39. Harindrini Corea, Attorney at Law

40. Hasanka Dilan

41. Hemasiri Perera

42. Herman Kumara 

43. Inthumathy Hariharathamotharan – Viluthu

44. Iromi Perera

45. J. Thayalini 

46. J. Varayalini 

47. Jake Oorloff

48. Jamunantha Sivanthan 

49. Janakie Abeywardane

50. Jayadeva Uyangoda, Professor Emeritus – University of Colombo

51. Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala

52. Joanne Senn 

53. K. Hemalatha

54. K. Saththiyaseelan

55. K.J. Brito Fernando

56. K.S. Ratnavale

57. Kalani Subasinghe

58. Kaushalya Ariyarathne

59. Kumaran Nadesan 

60. L.W.R. Wickramasinghe

61. Lal Motha

62. Lal Wijenayake, General Secretary – United Left Power

63. Leisha Lawrence

64. Lekha Ratwatte

65. Lucille Abeykoon

66. M. Nirmalathevi

67. Marian Pradeepa 

68. Marisa de Silva

69. Maya McCoy

70. Melanie Manel Perera – Journalist

71. Mirak Raheem – Researcher and Activist 

72. Monica Alfred

73. Mujeeb Rahman, LLB

74. N. Arththigan 

75. N. V. Nugawela 

76. Nabeela Iqbal

77. Nagulan Nesiah 

78. Navayuga Kugarajah

79. Neil Priyantha Fernando 

80. Nicola Perera – University of Colombo

81. Nilshan Fonseka

82. Nirun Lashanga

83. Nishan de Mel – Economist

84. Niyanthini Kadirgamar 

85. P.N. Singham 

86. Pasan Jayasinghe

87. Philip Setunga

88. Prabu Deepan 

89. Prashan De Visser 

90. Preshi Remunahettige

91. Priyani Kellman

92. Prof. Arjuna Parakrama – University of Peradeniya

93. Prof. Camena Guneratne

94. Prof. Shamala Kumar – University of Peradeniya

95. Puni Selvaratnam – Women for Justice and Peace in Sri Lanka

96. R. Kounthini 

97. R. Saththiya

98. R.J. Surenthiraraj

99. Rajany Rajeshwary 

100. Rajkumar Rajeevkanth

101. Ramalingam Ranjan

102. Ramona Miranda

103. Rev. Andrew Devadason – Anglican Church, Diocese of Colombo 

104. Rev. Ashok Stephen OMI – Former Director, Centre for Society and Religion (CSR)

105. Rev. Christine Perera – Activist

106. Rev. Dr. Jason J. Selvaraja – Assembly of God in Sri Lanka

107. Rev. Dr. Jayasiri T. Peiris 

108. Rev. Fr. F.C.J. Gnanaraj

109. Rev. Fr. Jeyabalan Croos

110. Rev. Fr. Nandana Manatunga 

111. Rev. Fr. Terence Fernando 

112. Rev. Sr. Deepa Fernando 

113. Rev. Sr. Nichola Emmanuel 

114. Rev. Sr. Noel Christine Fernando

115. Rev. Sr. Rasika Pieris HF

116. Reyaan Nadesarajah 

117. Rohan Wickramaratne

118. Rohini Dep Weerasinghe

119. Rohini Hensman – Writer, researcher and activist

120. Ruki Fernando

121. Ruwan Laknath Jayakody

122. S. Easwaran

123. S. Ethayarani 

124. S. Kopika 

125. S. Mariyarosalin 

126. S. Niththi

127. S. Tharsan

128. S. Thileepan

129. S. Weerapriya 

130. Sabra Zahid 

131. Sahayam Thilipan

132. Sampath Gunaratne

133. Sampath Samarakoon

134. Sandun Thudugala

135. Sanjana Hattotuwa

136. Sankha Ranadheera 

137. Sarah Arumugam

138. Saritha Irugalbandara

139. Selvaraja Rajasegar – Editor, Maatram.org

140. Shamalee de Silva Parizeau

141. Sharmini Ratnayake

142. Sharmini Wickramaratne

143. Shivantha Rathnayake

144. Shreen Saroor 

145. Sitralega Maunaguru – Independent Feminist Researcher, Batticaloa

146. Sonali Deraniyagala

147. Srinath Perera

148. Subram Ramaswamy 

149. Suchith Abeyewickreme – Social Activist

150. Sunanda Deshapriya

151. Suren D. Perera, Attorney-at-Law

152. Swasthika Arulingam 

153. Tanya Rajapakse

154. Thyagi Ruwanpathirana

155. Upeksha Thabrew

156. V. Shamini 

157. V. Sinthuka 

158. Velayudan Jayachithra 

159. Velusamy Weerasingham

160. Ven. Fr. Samuel J. Ponniah – Diocese of Colombo, Church of Ceylon

161. Venuri Perera

162. Viraj Abayarathna

163. Visakha Tillekeratne – Past Chief Commissioner, Sri Lanka Girl Guides & Ex-

Co member, MONLAR

164. Wimal Jayakody

165. Yalini Dream

Organisations


1. Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD)

2. Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA)

3. Dabindu Collective 

4. Families of the Disappeared (FoD)

5. Forum for Affected Families Mannar

6. Human Rights Office (HRO)

7. Maynmai, Anti-Caste Feminist Collective

8. National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO)

9. Reconciliation and Peace Desk, Diocese of Colombo

10. Revolutionary existence for human development (RED)

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