SRI LANKA DEMONSTRATION ACTIVITY

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000547 SIPDIS DEPT FOR DS/IP/SA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/ICI/PII, DSERCC and SA/INS EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES FOR RSOS E.O.12958: DECL: N/A TAGS: ASEC PTER CASC CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA DEMONSTRATION ACTIVITY ¶1. (U) On March 28, 2003, approximately 2000 people protested the U.S. position on Iraq. The demonstration was organized by the left-wing JVP political party, but according to the police, principally attended by Sri Lankan Muslims. The protesters were given permission to congregate no further than a site approximately one kilometer from the Embassy. The group did, however, exceed the permissible protest area and attempted to march to the Emabassy. ¶2. (U) The police prevented the demonstrators from approaching the Chancery. As the crowd did not readily respond to police instructions, the police used water cannons and dispensed 15 canisters of tear gas to force the crowd to disperse. According to the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) present at the scene, one of the canisters did not detonate and was thrown back at the police where the gas was released. The DIG was slightly injured and was taken to a hospital for medical treatment. ¶3. (U) The Embassy also received unconfirmed reports of demonstrations in at least six other locations in the country. No violence was reported and no reliable numbers are available. ¶4. (U) Post continues to closely monitor demonstration activity - particularly to see if numbers grow and violence begins to permeate. Wills