in less than 24 hours the new president has trampled on the Constitution

The archbishop of the capital affirmed that Wickremesinghe has violated the fundamental rights of the anti-government demonstrators, attacked by the security forces. Civil society calls for an independent and transparent investigation, in addition to the resignation of the head of state. Lawyers and journalists arrested.

Colombo () – The new president Ranil Wickremesinghe took office with the promise of protecting the Constitution, but less than 24 hours later he has violated the fundamental rights of the people. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, archbishop of the capital, launched this harsh accusation a few hours after the police and military carried out an operation against peaceful demonstrators protesting against the appointment of the new head of state.

Wickremesinghe replaced Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled to Singapore after months of public demonstrations over the country’s economic and financial crisis.

“If there are negative repercussions of the aggression [de las Fuerzas de Seguridad], the responsibility will fall on the president. I invite you not to use military power to mistreat those who are suffering great suffering,” Cardinal Ranjith said in a press release.

The cardinal accuses the police and the military of attacking unarmed civilians while they were sleeping: “A transparent and independent investigation must be launched into what happened. In this regard, I will request the intervention of the UN Human Rights Council.”

Cardinal Ranjith’s words of condemnation are not the only ones. Religious leaders, trade unionists, artists and ordinary citizens gathered yesterday morning at the Fort Railway station calling for protection for the protesters and for Wickremesinghe’s resignation.

Venerable Buddhist Matara Ananda Sagara Thero told that he had seen with his own eyes the violence perpetrated by agents and soldiers against activists, and spoke of an action worthy of Hitler’s Nazi army. “They verbally attacked me and kicked me out. The military behaved as if they had taken drugs”, explains the venerable Thero.

Saliya Peiris, president of the National Lawyers Association, also denounced violence against some of its members who tried to protect the rights of protesters. A lawyer was arrested along with several journalists. The Association has called for his immediate release.