After Gotabhaya Rajapakse was forced to resign due to continuous public protests, Ranil
Wickramasinghe became the Executive President through a constituitional conspiracy. He had
no people’s mandate and failed to win a single seat in the previous General Elections. With the
petty intention of holding the power, Ranil Wickramasinghe is unleashing a violent crackdown
on the active representatives of the People’s struggle. Inter University Students Federation
organised a protest yesterday (18th) against the governement repression and asking to acquire
the people’s money which was robbed by the Rajapakses and the others who governed the
country. The violent crackdown against yesterday’s protest in which a large number of students,
trade union leaders and artists were arrested, indicates a critical juncture in the government
repression.
The peaceful protest march by IUSF started from Lipton Roundabout with the intention of
reaching Colombo Fort. But a large group of police and riot police personnel were deployed to
attack the protesters brutally and to dissolve the protest march. 21 personnel have been arrested
according to official reports and they are kept in various police stations. They have not allowed
even the lawyers to see the arrested which is a clear violation of human rights.
Therefore, we ask everyone who respecting the Human Rights to condemn the repressive
actions of the Ranil Wickramasinghe government and to do whatever possible against this
crackdown of peaceful protesters.