US “deeply concerned”

The United States Embassy in a statement said last night it remains deeply concerned by the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, which were conducted in defiance of a Supreme Court order. 

“This impeachment calls into question issues about the separation of powers in Sri Lanka and the impact of its absence on democratic institutions,” it said.

The Embassy was also concerned about accounts of violence during several of the protests and called on all sides to respect the right of peaceful protest, and called on the Government to ensure that non-violent protesters were protected.

“The United States, along with our partners in the international community, continue to urge the Government of Sri Lanka to uphold the rule of law and respect the principles of democratic governance,” the statement added.