The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) staged a protest opposite the US Embassy in Colombo yesterday, against the visit of US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo to Sri Lanka – Pic by Ruwan Walpola 

• Hands over letter addressed to US Ambassador 
• Condemns efforts by US to interfere in SL sovereignty

Hours ahead of the visit of US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo for a brief visit to the island, the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) held a protest opposite the US Embassy in Colombo accusing the US of attempting to interfere in the internal affairs of the country.

Two former JVP MP Nalinda Jayatissa and Bimal Ratnayake also handed over a letter addressed to the US Ambassador in which the Party registered its strong protest and condemned the efforts by the US Government to interfere with the independence and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.

“We do not believe that the visit of US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo to Sri Lanka is at all to do with a ‘commitment to a strong, independent, and democratic Sri Lanka’ as stated in the briefing of the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Dean Thompson and Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell on 22 October. On the contrary, the USA has consistently sought to bring Sri Lanka under its sphere of influence and thereby drag Sri Lanka into an unnecessary and costly global and regional power play,” the letter said.

The JVP said it is well aware that the US is willing to violate every democratic and international norm and principle when it comes to protecting its interests.

“World history is littered with far too many examples of the US’ bullying of independent nations that also include interference with elections, usurping of democratically elected leaders, providing military and economic support for dictators and terrorist organisations,” the letter said.

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