March 21, 2012
- Gemuno Amarasinghe/Associated Press
- Supporters of the Sri Lankan government outside the British embassy in Colombo, during a demonstration denouncing a proposed U.N. resolution, Tuesday.
The U.S.’s push for an independent probe into human rights abuses by government forces during Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war has led to almost daily street protests in Colombo against Washington’s policy toward the country.
Backers of President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka say the protests are spontaneous and show anger at the U.S. for meddling in their country’s affairs.
Even those who oppose Mr. Rajapaksa acknowledge a wide swath of Sri Lankan society opposes U.S. policy toward the government, which in 2009 defeated the Tamil Tigers in a bloody end to the three-decade conflict. But they also claim Mr. Rajapaksa is manufacturing the protests, paying demonstrators and urging state employees onto the streets.
