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SJB to hold ‘massive’ Colombo protest next week 

07 Mar 2022

By Dinitha Rathnayake  Sri Lanka’s main opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), said yesterday (6) that it will organise a “massive” protest in Colombo on 15 March, with the participation of supporters from many parts of the country. Speaking to The Morning, SJB National Organiser MP Tissa Attanayake said the protest would be against what he termed were the reckless actions taken by the Government. “Price controls are something that a government declares to protect the people. By removing them, a serious situation is created. It is inevitable that the people will suffer due to the current situation,” he stated. He added: “Today, the prices of commodities like fuel, cement, gas, essential food items, etc., in the country are at a high, to a point where most of the population has given up on living. The country does not need a government for this to happen. Instead of repressing racketeers, the Government stands for racketeers.” Meanwhile, the SJB said it is also determined to proceed with a mass rally at the Anuradhapura Salgadu Grounds on 29 March, to raise the numerous issues being faced by farmers. The SJB held a mass rally-cum-protest last November, to which the Police had made requests from multiple courts seeking an order to prevent it from taking place. The Fort Magistrate’s Court rejected the request made by the Slave Island Police to issue an order preventing the SJB from holding a protest rally at Hyde Park, Colombo. Requests made from the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court and the Mount Lavinia Additional Magistrate were also rejected. However, the Thalangama, Malabe, and Mirihana police divisions obtained orders from the Kaduwela and Nugegoda Magistrate’s Courts, preventing the protest.  


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