We, the following undersigned citizens, strongly condemn the attack on the Viluthu office in Colombo between the night of the 23rd of January and early hours of Tuesday morning, the 24th January. The office was broken into and searched by unknown persons.
We are especially perturbed that this incident occurred in a high security zone in Colombo.
This is not the first time a civil society group has been attacked and we feel this cowardly act was carried out in order to intimidate the organisation. Viluthu’s work is focused on good governance and empowerment in the north and east of Sri Lanka in supporting the war-affected community.
These kinds of attacks pose a threat to an open society that is founded on democratic values and the rule of law, and upholds freedom of speech and civic activism. It is such a society that we as Sri Lankans should nurture if we are to move towards reconciliation and a lasting peace.
We support and encourage Ms. Shanthi Sachithanandan and the Viluthu team to continue their work on promoting social justice and women’s rights. We hope that incidents such as this one will never happen again in the future. We urge the law enforcement authorities, especially the Inspector General of Police, to act speedily and carry out investigations, and arrest those responsible for this incident.
Ms. Sharmini Boyle
Ms. Rajani Chandra
Ms. Visaka Dharmadasa (Association for War Affected Women)
Ms. Cayathri Divakalala
Ms. Nimalka Fernando
Mr. Ruki Fernando (Rights Now Collective for Democracy)
Mr. Sudarshana Gunawardana
Mr. Lionel Guruge
Mr. K. Guruparan (University of Jaffna)
Ms. Dilrukshi Handunnetti
Ms. Anberiya Hanifa (Muslim Women’s Research Action Forum)
Ms. Sharmila Mohamad Hanifa (Jaffna Civil Society for Equality)
Ms. Sithiravel Ithayarani
Ms.DushiYanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
Ms. Chulani Kodikara
Ms. Mahaluxmi Kurushanthan
Ms. Jensila Majeed (Women’s Action Network)
Ms.Ashila Niroshine Mapalagama
Mr. K.M.N. Mohammed
Ms. Anita Nesiah
Mr. Nigel V. Nugawela
Mr. Jehan Perera (National Peace Council)
Ms. Sumika Perera
Mr. Mirak Raheem
Mr. K. S. Ratnavale (Centre for Human rights and development)
Ms. Shreen Saroor (Women’s Action Network)
Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
Dr. Muttukrishna Sarvananthan (Point Pedro Institute of Development)
Mr. R.M. B Senanayake
Mr. Tony Seneviratne
Ms. M. Mangaleswary Shanker
Dr. Sumathy Sivamohan
Ms. Priya Thangarajah
Dr. Selvy Thiruchandran (Women’s Education and Research Centre)
Ms. Deanne Uyangoda
Mr. J.C. Weliamuna
TC
We are especially perturbed that this incident occurred in a high security zone in Colombo.
This is not the first time a civil society group has been attacked and we feel this cowardly act was carried out in order to intimidate the organisation. Viluthu’s work is focused on good governance and empowerment in the north and east of Sri Lanka in supporting the war-affected community.
These kinds of attacks pose a threat to an open society that is founded on democratic values and the rule of law, and upholds freedom of speech and civic activism. It is such a society that we as Sri Lankans should nurture if we are to move towards reconciliation and a lasting peace.
We support and encourage Ms. Shanthi Sachithanandan and the Viluthu team to continue their work on promoting social justice and women’s rights. We hope that incidents such as this one will never happen again in the future. We urge the law enforcement authorities, especially the Inspector General of Police, to act speedily and carry out investigations, and arrest those responsible for this incident.
Ms. Sharmini Boyle
Ms. Rajani Chandra
Ms. Visaka Dharmadasa (Association for War Affected Women)
Ms. Cayathri Divakalala
Ms. Nimalka Fernando
Mr. Ruki Fernando (Rights Now Collective for Democracy)
Mr. Sudarshana Gunawardana
Mr. Lionel Guruge
Mr. K. Guruparan (University of Jaffna)
Ms. Dilrukshi Handunnetti
Ms. Anberiya Hanifa (Muslim Women’s Research Action Forum)
Ms. Sharmila Mohamad Hanifa (Jaffna Civil Society for Equality)
Ms. Sithiravel Ithayarani
Ms.DushiYanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
Ms. Chulani Kodikara
Ms. Mahaluxmi Kurushanthan
Ms. Jensila Majeed (Women’s Action Network)
Ms.Ashila Niroshine Mapalagama
Mr. K.M.N. Mohammed
Ms. Anita Nesiah
Mr. Nigel V. Nugawela
Mr. Jehan Perera (National Peace Council)
Ms. Sumika Perera
Mr. Mirak Raheem
Mr. K. S. Ratnavale (Centre for Human rights and development)
Ms. Shreen Saroor (Women’s Action Network)
Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
Dr. Muttukrishna Sarvananthan (Point Pedro Institute of Development)
Mr. R.M. B Senanayake
Mr. Tony Seneviratne
Ms. M. Mangaleswary Shanker
Dr. Sumathy Sivamohan
Ms. Priya Thangarajah
Dr. Selvy Thiruchandran (Women’s Education and Research Centre)
Ms. Deanne Uyangoda
Mr. J.C. Weliamuna
TC
