JVP protests near US Embassy against Pompeo’s visit

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) staged a protest opposite the US Embassy in Colombo today against the official visit of US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo to Sri Lanka.

JVP supporters and members held placards near the embassy during the protest.

Issuing a statement, the JVP said the party strongly protests and condemns the efforts by the United States 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 the 22nd of October 2020,” the JVP said.

On the contrary, the JVP feels the USA has consistently sort to bring Sri Lanka under its sphere of influence and thereby drag Sri Lanka into an unnecessary and costly global and regional power play.

“We are well aware that the USA 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?s bullying of independent nations that also include interference with elections, usurping of democratically elected leaders, providing military and economic support for dictators and terrorist organizations,” the JVP said.

The statement further said that now that the USA?s influence and power are waning in the world, it is desperately attempting to fix its interests in South Asia with whatever means it can.

“If not, we see no reason why a week before a critical election in the US, the Secretary of State should hurriedly visit Sri Lanka is this manner. We are well aware that several critical military and trade agreements are pending which the US government is pressurizing the Government of Sri Lanka to enter into without proper accountability and due process. Unfortunately, the current government of Sri Lanka has proven itself unable to maintain an independent and non-aligned stance on these issues”.

?We find the statement by the US government urging Sri Lanka to make ?necessary but difficult decisions to secure its economic independence? not just hypocritical (given that the US government is making all efforts to undermine Sri Lanka?s political & economic independence!) but also threatening and deeply disrespectful of an independent and sovereign nation-state,? the JVP said.

The JVP said it categorically affirms that the people of Sri Lanka have no intention of tying its fortunes to a regime, which has been violating every decent principle of international cooperation, collaboration and diplomacy.

US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will undertake a 2-day official visit to Sri Lanka from today (27), on an invitation extended by his Sri Lankan counterpart, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

During his visit, Pompeo will hold official discussions with the Lankan leadership as well as with his counterpart. (Colombo Gazette)