In the early hours of Friday, the Sri Lankan army barged into and evacuated Galle Face in Colombo, destroying temporary structures set up by demonstrators, who had occupied the protest site for over a hundred days.
At least nine protestors were arrested and two others injured during clashes with security forces, with several videos on social media showing the soldiers using indiscriminate and excessive force.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, a protestor said that the security forces “brutally assaulted the peaceful protestors” who were not given any warning before the military resorted to violence and “filthy language.”
Sri Lanka security forces assualt several individuals near Cinnamon Grand hotel including journalists
— NewsWire 🇱🇰 (@NewsWireLK) July 21, 2022
📸 : Xposure News pic.twitter.com/6GY4R1nOxC
The armed forces subsequently blocked Galle Face, restricting access to lawyers and journalists. Therefore, the accounts of the late-night attack were largely given by the protestors themselves, despite the soldiers destroying the phones of several citizens who were recording videos and live streams.
Several leaders and organisations have criticised the army’s actions. The president of the Sri Lanka Bar Association, Saliya Peiris, said, “Unnecessary use of brute force will not help this country and its international image.”
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka called for an independent inquiry into the incident. The Commission called on authorities to “identify the perpetrators and take appropriate action.”
This is unacceptable. The authorities must stand down immediately! The right to protest must be protected. Sri Lankan authorities must immediately cease these acts of violence and release those arrested unlawfully in this manner.
— Amnesty International South Asia (@amnestysasia) July 21, 2022
Meanwhile, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa condemned the incident as a “cowardly assault against peaceful protestors, who agreed to vacate the sites today.” He called the president’s decision to deploy the army a “useless display of ego and brute force.”
Several foreign envoys also condemned the army’s decision to remove protestors from the Galle Face protest site. For instance, United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung said she was “deeply concerned” and urged security forces to exercise restraint and ensure access to medical services. In a similar vein, British High Commissioner Sarah Hulton extended her support for the “right to peaceful protest.”
Deeply concerned about actions taken against protestors at Galle Face in the middle of the night. We urge restraint by authorities & immediate access to medical attention for those injured.
— Ambassador Julie Chung (@USAmbSL) July 22, 2022
Hours before the army entered Galle Face, protestors and aid organisations, including the Red Cross, vacated the “No Deal Gama” protest site outside the Presidential Secretariat, as per a commitment they had made to vacate the presidential palace by July 21.
However, President Ranil Wickremesinghe nonetheless signed off on a gazette notification bringing in the Armed Forces for the “maintenance of public order,” and directed them to clear the Galle Face protest site.
Previously, while serving as the acting president in the run-up to the parliamentary vote, Wickremesinghe had vowed to bring back “law and order.” He said that while he supported the right to peaceful protests, civilians should not “obstruct the parliamentarians and the parliament from carrying out their duty.”
A cowardly assault against PEACEFUL protestors, who agreed to vacate the sites today; A useless display of ego and brute force putting innocent lives at risk & endangers Sri Lanka’s international image, at a critical juncture. https://t.co/E6g9lEUgV1
— Sajith Premadasa (@sajithpremadasa) July 22, 2022
He added, “We have given instructions to the police and the army not to use firearms at all times. Although the protesters have attacked the security forces in some cases.”
Moreover, earlier this month, he imposed a state of emergency to counter ‘fascism’ and urged the military to “do whatever is necessary to restore order.” He warned, “We can’t allow fascists to take over. We must end this fascist threat to democracy.”
On Wednesday, Wickremesinghe was appointed as the president after securing a majority of votes in the parliament. Following his appointment, Premadasa warned of “anarchy.”
Protestors said the parliament had taken a “decision against the wishes of the people,” noting that Wickremesinghe was first appointed as PM by now-former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. In this regard, they said that protests would continue until Wickremesinghe also resigned.