International

Scores protest in Lanka against Donald Trump

Scores protest in Lanka against Donald Trump

January 20, 2017 | 11:01 PM
Rights activists demonstrate outside the US embassy in Colombo yesterday, ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States.
A small, but vociferous group yesterday staged a protest outside the US embassy in Sri Lanka about the inauguration of Donald Trump as US president, officials said.Carrying placards and chanting slogans, the protesters denounced Trump’s comments on various issues including the environment, war and immigrants and claimed they could have an impact on Sri Lanka.“We are showing our solidarity with all the people throughout the world who are taking part in protests against president-elect Trump,” Siritunga Jayasuriya, leader of the United Socialist Party, said.More than 100 people from political parties, civil rights and labour organisations protested for more than an hour as police stepped up security outside the embassy in Colombo. However, there were others who welcomed Trump, with one of the Buddhist organisations placing a full-page newspaper advertisement wishing him long life.
January 20, 2017 | 11:01 PM