US ‘deeply concerned’ by impeachment proceedings

The United States on Friday expressed its deep concern over the government’s impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, which it says 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,” the U.S. Embassy in Colombo issuing a statement said.

 

The Embassy said it is also concerned about accounts of violence during several of the protests.  “The Embassy calls on all sides to respect the right of peaceful protest, and calls on the government to ensure that non-violent protesters are 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,” it said.