Feb 25, Colombo: The United States Embassy in Sri Lanka has issued a warning to the US citizens over the mass solidarity demonstration planned to be held in Colombo and other major cities in Sri Lanka on Monday (27).
The protests are directed against the planned US-supported United Nations Human Rights Council resolution concerning alleged human rights abuses made during Sri Lanka's recent civil conflict.
The message, issued as a public service to US citizens in Sri Lanka and the Maldives warns that demonstrations could occur outside the US Embassy and could continue after Monday and urges the US citizens to closely monitor local media for reports of protests and avoid coming to the Embassy located on the Galle Road when there is a protest in the area.
If protests occur outside the Embassy, no one will be allowed onto the compound until the protesters have dispersed, the announcement reads.
The United States has decided to support the resolution against Sri Lanka to be tabled at the United Nations Human Rights Council sessions Monday to pressure the Sri Lankan government to take prompt measures to implement the recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and address the accountability issues.
Sri Lanka's ruling party and other pro-government organizations plan to hold a series of peaceful public protests island wide from Monday under the theme of "Human shield to protect the country from foreign intrusion" to protest the presentation of the US-backed resolution.
The protests are planned to be held on Monday February 27 at 3:00 p.m., near Colombo Fort Railway Station.
More demonstrations will be held in Colombo at the Khan clock tower in Fort on February 28, before Ceylon Electricity Board headquarters on March 01, and at Maradana Technical Junction on March 02.
CT