While expressing concern over the incidents in Weliweriya and Grandpass, the European Union said it looked to the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure justice through speedy, impartial investigations and to enable all Sri Lankans to exercise their human rights freely.

Issuing a statement the EU delegation in Colombo said that “it is concerned over the recent incidents in Sri Lanka, including the deaths of three civilians following protests in Weliweriya on August 1 and the attack on the Grandpass mosque on August 10, which followed a number of other attacks on mosques and churches.”

“The right to freedom of peaceful assembly and the right to freedom of worship are fundamental to democratic societies and should be protected by the state,” the statement said.