Published 21:05 IST, July 24th 2022

Sri Lankan protesters 'condemn brutal attack', pledge to continue 'non-violent protests'

Sri Lanka: Calling the action of authorities "brutal," the protesters have said that they will continue to hold the protest in case they are attacked.

Reported by: Apoorva Kaul
Follow: Google News Icon
  • share
Image: AP/PTI | Image: self
Advertisement

Amid ongoing ecomic crisis, protesters in Sri Lanka have condemned actions of authorities against demonstrators at Galle Face in Colombo. Calling action of authorities "brutal",  protesters have said that y will continue to hold protest in case y are attacked, according to ANI. statement of protesters came after security personnel conducted a raid near Presidential Secretariat and site of protests at Galle Face. 

"We just want to condemn this brutal attack on very peaceful creative protesters. We have been protesting for more than 105 days," One of protester said at a press conference as per ANI.  

Addressing a press conference, protesters said that several arrests have been made as police launched raid at Presidential Secretariat and protest site at Galle Face in a bid to clear area of protesters. protester claimed that y were being targeted "brutally" and called action of authorities "torture." protester claimed that he had seen police using weapons to target demonstrators and called action "inhuman." Ar protester said that attack on protesters was to demonstrate power of Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe. He added that authorities removed protesters from site but y had again started heading towards site after eight hours. 

Advertisement

"We condemn this kind of brutal attack on peaceful protesters. We have been doing this as a protest of love in order to change society, in order to have justice. And we will continue this peaceful n-violent protest," protester said in a press conference as per ANI. 

Protesters call on police to take responsibility for attack

A protester in press conference said that police personnel justified ir actions by showing isolated incidents and claimed that police force should have taken action at very moment. protester claimed that y did t provoke violence and accused police personnel of "inciting violence" against m. According to protester, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe does t seek democracy. He added that protesters are ready to act if this is how Wickremesinghe would make democracy function in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, ar protester asserted that police needs to take responsibility for attack on demonstrators on July 22. 

"We would like to inform Ranil and state that if this is way you gonna show us that democracy works, well we are ready for this too. If losing our life means saving this country, n all of us are ready for this," protester said as per ANI.

Security personnel vacate main anti-govt protest camp   

On July 22, Sri Lankan security personnel vacated main anti-government protest camps from Galle Face Green, according to AP. This came after newly-elected President Ranil Wickremesinghe deployed forces o restore law. security personnel of Sri Lanka set up barricades outside premises of Sri Lankan Presidential Secretariat in Colombo, according to ANI.  protesters accused police personnel of launching raids at anti-government protest camps in Colombo on Friday. people of Sri Lanka took to streets for months demanding resignation of leaders over ecomic crisis in island nation. ecomic crisis resulted in a short of medicine, food and or essential services. Earlier this month, protesters barged into Presidential palace and government buildings to demand resignation of n President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa fled nation and tendered resignation after protesters stormed presidential palace. 

Advertisement

Inputs from ANI, AP

Im: AP/PTI

 

21:05 IST, July 24th 2022