Protests are allowed without damaging property and life – President

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has briefed diplomatic officials on the measures taken to ensure that non-violent protests are allowed in the city without harming property or lives.The President also told them that all the facilities inside Colombo such as Viharamahadevi Park’s outdoor theater, New City Hall, Hyde Park and Campbell Pitiya were made available for non-violent protests.Also, in response to the issues raised regarding the GotaGoGama protest site, the President has also explained to them that according to false social media reports, it has not been removed by the security forces.Furthermore, the Attorney General has informed them about the legal procedures to be followed, including the presentation of all those arrested by the police to the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.The President has reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to uphold the rights of peaceful and non-violent assembly.The President had convened this meeting held last Friday (27) in Colombo to inform the diplomatic officers regarding the removal of the protesters who are illegally staying in the Presidential Secretariat.President Wickremesinghe stated that the government will uphold both Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 14 (1) (b) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, which governs the right to peaceful assembly.The President further clarified that the instructions given by the American Civil Liberties Union stated that protesters would not be allowed to block government buildings and obstruct property for other purposes.