Amnesty International urge Sri Lankan authorities to exercise restraint in use of force

 

Amnesty International says it is worrying that even after months of widespread protests in the country, Sri Lanka Police need to be constantly reminded of their duty to facilitate the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and exercise restraint in the use of force while policing assemblies.

The international rights organization’s Regional Researcher for the Right to Protest, Harindrini Corea made this remark responding to the reports of the death of a protestor who was hospitalized after the police fired tear gas and used water cannons in Colombo on Sunday (Feb 26) to disperse a group of demonstrators of the National People’s Power (NPP) demanding elections.

The deceased was identified as a Local Government election candidate of the NPP who was vying for the Nivithigala Pradeshiya Sabha.