Security forces in riot gear, armed with automatic assault rifles, dislodged protesters from the Presidential Secretariat.
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Sri Lankan security forces took over the last public building still occupied by anti-government protesters in Colombo on Friday, July 22, during a violent assault that worries the international community.
Hundreds of Sri Lankan soldiers and police dismantled the main camp of anti-government protesters in the capital overnight from Thursday to Friday, hours after President-elect Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in. Security forces in riot gear, armed with automatic assault rifles, dislodged protesters, dismantled barricades and surrounded the Presidential Secretariat compound, which had been partially overrun by protesters, hastening the downfall of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa nearly two weeks ago. According to testimonies, soldiers attacked individuals, including journalists, with truncheons.
The American ambassador to Colombo, Julie Chung, said she was “deeply concerned” by this military operation and called on the authorities to take action. Canadian High Commissioner (Ambassador) David McKinnon stressed that it was “crucial that the authorities act with restraint and avoid violence.” Amnesty International urged the Sri Lankan authorities to respect dissent and condemned the use of force against journalists, including a BBC photographer, who were covering the military operation.