{"id":80138,"date":"2022-11-02T00:27:59","date_gmt":"2022-11-02T04:27:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=80138"},"modified":"2022-11-02T16:09:57","modified_gmt":"2022-11-02T20:09:57","slug":"sri-lankan-police-block-an-anti-government-protest-march-in-colombo-from-maradana-to-fort-organised-by-opposition-parties-civic-activists-and-trade-unions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=80138","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lankan Police block an anti-government protest march in Colombo from Maradana to Fort , organised by Opposition parties, civic activists and trade unions"},"content":{"rendered":"


\nBy<\/p>\n

Meera Srinivasan<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Sri Lanka Police on Wednesday blocked an anti-government protest march organised by Opposition parties, civic activists and trade unions who demanded that the Ranil Wickremesinghe government \u201cstop repression\u201d and address the persisting economic crisis.<\/p>\n

Members of Sri Lanka\u2019s main Opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB or United People\u2019s Force), along with student groups, lawyer and journalist collectives, and worker unions began a march from the busy Maradana locality north of the city centre, and planned to proceed towards Colombo\u2019s Fort area. However, the police who earlier denied permission for the protest \u2014 despite many, including Sri Lanka\u2019s Human Rights Commission, issuing statements underscoring citizens\u2019 constitutional right to dissent \u2014 blocked participants from proceeding after a point.<\/p>\n

Wednesday\u2019s march followed a protest rally organised by trade unions affiliated to the Opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) last week, and points to a potential new wave of protests in Sri Lanka, as citizens reel under hyperinflation \u2014 66 % in October \u2014 and food inflation of over 85 %, amid reports of starvation and a growing concern over state repression. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Sixty-seven-year-old Zulaiya Biwi had come with her sister to the protest. \u201cWe can\u2019t allow this to go on. Everything from our light bill and water bill has increased so much. Food items are very costly. How are we supposed to eat?\u201d she asked. Forced to close her small, home-based apparel business, she is struggling to earn a living.<\/p>\n

Jude, 50, who runs a fish stall at the wholesale market in Peliyagoda town, said his earnings have been badly hit by the price hikes in fuel. \u201cEvery day has become such a struggle. I am just unable to cope. We have no other alternative but to protest and seek solutions,\u201d he said. For some protesters, a solution included elections, so people have a say in who governs them.<\/p>\n

Accusing President Wickremesinghe of \u201cjust protecting the Rajapaksas\u201d, Ms. Zulaiya said: \u201cAll the thieves and crooks are safe, but innocent people and youth are being jailed. Ranil [Wickremesinghe] did not come to power winning an election, he will not help us, he must go.\u201d <\/p>\n

Some protesters reflected the sentiment in the message on their headbands that read: \u201cRanil go home\u201d, not unlike \u201cGota go home\u201d, the slogan that dominated the people\u2019s uprising earlier this year that led to the former President\u2019s dramatic ousting in July.<\/p>\n

Several posters at the protest site referred to government \u201crepression\u201d, the controversial rehabilitation bureau Bill, that critics fear would sanction abuse and torture, and the Prevention of Terrorism Act that rights defenders deem \u201cdraconian\u201d. <\/p>\n

In August, authorities detained three student leaders under the much-dreaded law, prompting wide condemnation from rights groups. The SJB and other protesting groups urged the government to \u201cstop repression\u201d and repeal the PTA.
\n
\nCourtesy:The Hindu<\/em><\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Meera Srinivasan The Sri Lanka Police on Wednesday blocked an anti-government protest march organised by Opposition parties, civic activists and trade unions who demanded that the Ranil Wickremesinghe government \u201cstop repression\u201d and address the persisting economic crisis. Members of Sri Lanka\u2019s main Opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB or United People\u2019s Force), along with …<\/p>\n

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