COLOMBO: British high commissioner Sarah Hulton in Colombo said here: “ A democratic and peaceful approach is essential to resolving the current challenges. Rights to peaceful protest and freedom of expression must be respected alongside all fundamental rights. Emergency laws restricting those rights work against democratic dialogue & solutions.”
“ Limitations to the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms are only acceptable when exceptional, proportional and justified. But Peaceful expression of dissent is not an emergency.Root causes for dissent must be tackled” – Hana Singer Hamdy -UN Resident Coordinator
Sri Lankans deserve to have their voices heard, says the Ambassador of New Zealand Michael Appleton.In a tweet, the Ambassador states that New Zealand is concerned regarding the decision of Sri Lanka to impose a State of Emergency without providing clear rationale.New Zealand encourages all to focus on solving Sri Lanka’s political and economic challenges.
The Swiss Ambassador Dr Dominik Furgler said here that for weeks the Sri Lankans have been peacefully demonstrating because they are desperate and suffering, and to avoid an escalation the causes have to be seriously and credibly addressed now.
Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Trine Eskedal says the declaration of State of Emergency is concerning.In a tweet, the Norwegian Ambassador pointed out that using teargas on peaceful protesters and declaring a state of emergency when the protests have been peaceful and while the parliament is adjourned is concerning.
