Defend the right to protest

Release all those arrested during protests

A CWI statement

On 21st July, Ranil Wickremasinghe assumed the Presidency of Sri Lanka after the former President Gotabaya Rajapakse fled and was chased out by the prolonged mass protest movement, Aragalaya. Since coming to power Wickremasinghe has continuously tried to repress and crush the protest movement. It started with an attack on the Gota Go Gama on 2nd July and has continued until the present time.

Thousands of protesters have been arrested on various protests and under numerous charges. Some were detained under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act, PTA. This is a clear violation of the democratic rights of the people.

For the last one and a half months many protests have been called in opposition to the repressive measures enacted by Ranil Wickremasinghe and his government, demanding the democratic right to protest. The majority of those protests have been brutally crushed by the government and a large number of people have been arrested who participated in them.

On Saturday 24th September the police launched a brutal attack on the protest march called by the Socialist Student Union in Sri Lanka. The protest was broadcast live and it was clear it was a peaceful protest. The police intervened using brutal force to disperse the march. During this attack five protesters were injured and 84 were arrested including a 17 year old girl. Freedom of expression and the right to protest are fundamental democratic rights.

We therefore demand:

  • The Sri Lanka government stop repressing peaceful protests and that basic democratic freedoms including the right to protest are allowed.
  • Abolition of the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act, PTA.
  • Immediate release of all detained activists including Wasantha Mudalige, Hashantha Jeewantha, Galwewa Siridhamma, Melani Gunathilake, Erange Gunasekara and Wimal Ketipearachichi.

The Committee for a Workers’ International sends its support and solidarity to all protesters and supports the demands of the Aragalaya.

Update at 13.00 on 25.9.22: The 84 protesters arrested on 24.9.22 have now been released on bail, but student leaders who were arrested previously are still being held under the PTA.