Responding to questions posed by Shadow Minister for Transport, Tanmanjeet Dhesi, over Britain’s engagement with Sri Lanka, Minister of State for the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Anne-Marie Trevelyan, emphasised Britain’s concerns over human rights in Sri Lanka and stressed that “violence against peaceful protestors is unacceptable”.
Trevelyan statement follows Sri Lanka’s Tourism Minister, Diana Gamage, call for student protesters to be beaten. Gamage’s statement follows a violent crackdown on peaceful protesters led by the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) on 7 March and a similar protest at the University of Kelaniya held the following night. During these demonstrations, police resorted to using water cannons and tear gas as well as arresting several protesters.
Read more here: ‘These people must be beaten’ – Sri Lanka’s Tourism Minister demands violence against student protesters
Addressing concerns over Sri Lanka’s human rights record, Trevelyan reaffirmed the UK’s belief that “a stable and inclusive political settlement is an essential foundation for the economic recovery and growth that Sri Lanka needs”.
She added that:
“Minister for South Asia, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, and the British High Commissioner, have called for a peaceful, democratic and inclusive approach to resolving the current political and economic issues. They also emphasised that violence against peaceful protestors is unacceptable”.
She concludes her statement by noting:
“We call on the Sri Lankan authorities to safeguard citizens' rights and ensure security responses are proportionate and in line with international human rights standards”.
Her statement comes as Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Ali Sabry, has visited the UK as part of the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers’ Meeting (CFAMM).
Read more here: Sri Lanka’s foreign minister to attend 22nd CGAMM in London
