[Asian Human Rights Commission]

The Asian Human Rights Commission condemns the brutal attack that injured at least 250 peaceful demonstrators yesterday, the 30th of May, at Katunayake. They were protesting against a proposed law which threatens the workers’ provident fund. At the same we congratulate the protesters, who were able to get the government to make an announcement stating the law has been withdrawn.

We call upon the government conduct a genuine inquiry into the shooting and to prosecute the culprits.

For a long time the rights of the people have been suppressed by the use of violence against protests. The silencing of people by use of violence by the police and military has become a common feature in the country. Yesterday live bullets were used against demonstrators. This is the largest number of persons that have been injured in such an attack.

People throughout the country are complaining of unbearable hardships due to rise of prices of all essential goods as well as the breakdown of the rule of law. The government, on the other hand, is facing pressure from international banks from which the government has borrowed heavily at high interest rates. People complain of the government’s waste, corruption and lack of transparency.
The AHRC also calls upon the government to withdraw the emergency and anti-terrorism laws, and thus enable the functioning of the rule of law. The continuous existence of these extraordinary measures has brought a paralysis in the machinery of the administration of justice and the courts are unable to intervene to protect the rights of the individual citizens.

About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.