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Multi-party protest to go ahead despite Govt., chambers’ objections

01 Nov 2022

  • SJB, SLFP, FSP, and unions to converge on Colombo Fort
  • JVP to not take part
  • Sajith tells security forces not to suppress protest
  • Business chambers want protest to be called off
  • Harin slams Sajith for ‘untimely’ protest
  • UNP’s Vajira brands protestors ‘traitors’  
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Organisers of the multi-party protest to be held today (2) in Colombo against President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Government have reiterated their intention to attract a massive crowd, despite representatives of the Government and leading business chambers yesterday (1) calling for the protest to be called off. The protest is expected to be held with the participation of more than 20 political parties, including the main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), and the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), and nearly 150 civil organisations and trade unions. However, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Supreme Lanka Coalition, which consists of a few of the MPs that left the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) recently and declared themselves “independent” MPs, will not participate in the protest. Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa officially announced the SJB’s support for the protest to be held today, saying that the SJB would extend “200% support”. He said that the protest would be a peaceful one, and therefore informed the security forces to withdraw from any plan to suppress the protest or those in attendance.  “Don’t try to stop us, as it is our right to stage protests. We are staging this protest against these arrests and the high taxes imposed on the people. Some are trying to pass on false information saying that the SJB will not participate in the protest, but we assure that we will be participating in the protest. Also, if the security forces or some other party disrupts it, all possible action will be taken against them,” he said. However, several business chambers, including the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Young Lanka Entrepreneurs, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka, the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka and the Women's Chamber of Industry and Commerce, in a joint statement, expressed concerns about the protests to be held today.  “While recognising their freedom of speech and the right to express views, the chambers request all parties to call off protests of this nature that could undermine the efforts being taken to resolve the current economic crisis with the support of the international community. Any act of destabilisation taking place at this time and any negative publicity arising from it would seriously derail actions that are being taken to revive the economy including the efforts being taken to promote tourism,” the statement noted. Meanwhile, speaking at a media briefing yesterday, Minister of Lands and Tourism Harin Fernando blamed MP Premadasa for supporting the protest to be held today, and said that the protest is a “shameless” act that will have a negative impact on the country's economy, particularly the tourism sector.  He said: "There is a time to do something, but this is not the time. I appeal to the people not to allow the political desires of various individuals to bring down the country again. It is very shameful. We have also engaged in protests. During a protest, the protestors try to aggravate the Police into attacking; after that, it becomes news. When it becomes news, (SJB MP Dr.) Harsha de Silva can tweet about it, someone else can make a video, and someone else can post about it. They can lament that there is no discipline and democracy in the country. We did the same."  Fernando, who entered Parliament through the SJB, said that although there is no problem with holding political activities and protests, there is the question of whether this is the right time for such. He said that although he has nothing to personally lose due to the protest, he fears that the tourism industry, which the people of the country have some faith in, will collapse again. He further said that if negative news is created due to today's protest and the tourism industry and the country collapses, Premadasa should take responsibility.  "Why are you (Premadasa) so hypocritical? Why are you so power hungry? When you were invited, you did not take power. After that, joining with another group and doing this, as you cannot do it alone, is a very cheap act. Even if there is an election tomorrow and you accept this, you can’t bring money from underground and solve this just because you are the son of (former President) Ranasinghe Premadasa. So allow this situation to subside and then contest elections. So think and try to become President, but give it time. Don’t do this damage to the people," said Fernando.  Similarly, United National Party (UNP) MP Vajira Abeywardana, commenting on the protest, said that everyone who participates in today’s protest should be considered traitors, as they will be playing a role in exacerbating the country’s economic crisis. Claiming that Sri Lanka has managed to achieve some kind of stability, with the prices of essential goods being reduced to a certain extent and the pick-up of the tourism sector, he said that the country may lose all such achievements due to such protests.  According to the organisers, the protest will begin in the form of a march from near the Elphinstone Theatre in Colombo 10 at 3 p.m., and then proceed towards the Colombo Fort Railway Station, in front of which a public meeting will be held. Although the organisers of the protests earlier stated that they were in discussion with the JVP to obtain its support for the protest, JVP Politburo Member Sunil Handunnetti yesterday (1) told The Morning: "We do not support this in any way. We will not participate in the protest. This is not something that we are organising. It is the SJB and the FSP who are organising this, aren’t they?" Meanwhile, when queried by a journalist as to whether the Supreme Lanka Coalition will participate in the “massive” protest to be held today at a press conference yesterday, the Coalition’s Chairman and MP Wimal Weerawansa said: "We have not discussed it. How do you know it will be a massive one? No party has asked us for support. We cannot support without being asked for support, can we?" Earlier, in an open letter to all political parties, the Young Journalists’ Association of Sri Lanka (YJASL) had stated that although it is a normal feature of a democratic society to have differences in terms of political ideologies, it is the responsibility of all political parties and civil organisations to put aside such differences and intervene to protect the citizens' rights in the event of the serious suppression being carried out by the Government.  In the letter, the association had requested all political parties, trade unions and other organisations to come together against the Government`s suppressive programme at this critical time and to actively contribute to stop what they called "State terrorism". Over 20 political parties, and more than 100 trade unions, student movements, and civil organisations, including the SJB, the SLFP, the FSP, the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU), the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF), and the YJASL, which signed a joint statement to defeat the “suppressive programme of the current Government led by Wickremesinghe” on 25 October, stated that they would hold a “massive” protest in Colombo today.  Representatives from several political parties, trade unions, student movements, and civil organisations, including SJB MP Mujibur Rahman, Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya National Organiser Hirunika Premachandra, SLFP Propaganda Secretary Thisara Gunasinghe, FSP Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda, Duminda Nagamuwa of the FSP, CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin, IUSF Acting Convenor Terrance Rodrigo, civil activist Dhanizh Ali, and YJASL Secretary M.F.M. Fazeer attended the event at which the said joint statement was signed. 

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