UNI ASIA & PACIFIC CONDEMNS ATTACK ON PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS IN SRI LANKA

The UNI Asia and Pacific Regional Organization (UNI Apro) strongly condemns the attack on peaceful protestors in the areas officially declared for public demonstrations located near the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo on 22 July 2022.

UNI Apro stands in solidarity and pays tribute to the Sri Lankans exercising their legitimate right to freedom of expression, protesting in a peaceful and non-violent manner over the past hundred days, and calling out the government for failing to provide the basic needs for the citizen’s right to life.

We unreservedly condemn all use of disproportionate force by government security forces on unarmed civilians.

Reports from the ground indicated brutal attacks were especially targeted at media workers, journalists, reporters from international media, and social media activists covering the event on 22 July.

We call upon the government led by the newly installed President Ranil Wickremesinghe to immediately halt all violence perpetrated by the armed security forces against innocent civilians.

We also call on the government to immediately explore all peaceful opportunities to respond to the calls of the people undergoing severe hardships in Sri Lanka.