Sri Lanka unites in public solidarity to protest against UN resolution

Massive crowds flocked to Sri Lankan capital Colombo and other major cities across the island today to express solidarity against a resolution on Sri Lanka to be presented at the 19th sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland that is currently underway.

Amid heavy police presence, thousands of Sri Lankans carrying placards and shouting slogans marched on the streets in Colombo Fort today and rallied near the Fort Railway Station where the main protest was held to show support to the government.

Activists of various trade unions, students, professional associations and groups belonging to all political parties have participated in the rally in Colombo.

Leaders of all political parties in the United Peoples Freedom Alliance headed by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party have participated in the protests.

Sri Lanka's ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party General Secretary and Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena led the demonstration in Polonnaruwa in North Central Province. Minister of State Administration and Local Affairs John W.D.J. Senevirathna led a demonstration in Ratnapura in the Sabaragamuwa Province.

In the liberated northeastern Mullaitivu town Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim protesters burnt an effigy of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

An effigy of US president Barack Obama was set on fire at a protest demonstration held in northwestern town of Chilaw where a fisherman was killed recently in police fire during a protest against the increase of petroleum price.

The Catholic and Christian religious leaders have blessed the President, head of the three armed forces and the government prior to the commencement of the agitation campaigns, the state run radio reported.

In the Tamil heartland of Jaffna, the provincial capital of North, people rallied in front of the Nallur Kovil to protest the UN's move. The Tamil and Muslim communities actively participated in protests in the districts of Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Mannar, Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee.

People in the plantations in the Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Badulla districts also took part in the protests. Protest marches also took place in the southern towns of Galle, Matara and Hambantota as well as in Anuradhapura and Kurunegala.

The resolution, to be tabled at the UNHRC sessions beginning today, aims to pressure the Sri Lankan government to promptly implement the recommendations set forth by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and to address the accountability issues.