brand logo

‘Rejuvenated aragalaya’ to begin at Hyde Park today 

27 Oct 2022

  • Numerous multi-sectoral protestors to Colombo today 
BY Buwanajee Coralage The Trade Union Co-ordination Centre (TUCC), with the participation of civil organisations, teachers, principals, and trade unionists representing the Government, semi-Government, private, estate, and other sectors, have organised a mass protest today (27) in Colombo under the themes, “stop the suppression” and “give space to the people’s voice”, while urging the Government to provide the public with a solution to safeguard their livelihoods amidst the exponentially rising cost of living. The protest march and rally will commence from various parts of the island and end at Hyde Park, Colombo. TUCC Convenor Wasantha Samarasinghe, addressing the media yesterday (26), stated that this protest rally will be held against the Government’s action to suppress the public’s right to protest. He noted that they will be protesting today demanding that a living allowance be given to all Government, semi-Government, private sector, and estate workers, as well as pensioners, due to the escalating cost of living, pointing out that inflation has gone up by 82% compared to last year.  “We will be conducting a massive protest in Colombo today to fight against the suppression of our basic freedom of expression. This Government is planning to block the public opinion through the enforcement of many rules, but we are ready to protest against this. We also call for a living allowance to be given to all State and non-State sector employees due to the rapid escalation of living costs that are affecting them, with inflation hitting 82% compared to October of last year,” said Samarasinghe. Meanwhile, addressing the media, a TUCC Co-Convener asserted that the “Ranil-Rajapaksa” (a reference to President Ranil Wickremesinghe and former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa) Government has put the people of this country in a state where they are unable to afford three meals a day, as their salaries are inadequate to make ends meet. Furthermore, he highlighted how the High Security Zones, the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, and the Police Ordinance are enforced to suppress the public. He called for the withdrawal of all the above acts done to oppress the public, while emphasising that this protest would be the rejuvenation of previous protests.  He also claimed that President Wickremesinghe’s policy to sell off public enterprises to gain US dollars should be rejected, and that necessary provisions should be provided to safeguard the health and education sectors.  “The Government’s actions without any foresight have left us in this place, but we will not allow them to exploit the public by imposing income taxes. This protest won’t end today, but will continue thereafter if the authorities do not take the required action to address the pressing matters troubling the general public,” he said. TUCC Chief Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe, speaking to the media, also pointed out that no solutions have yet been provided by the current Government for the people’s problems. He called for the Government to resign and dissolve Parliament if it is incapable of addressing the issues the people face. He demanded that the Government withdraw the measures taken to interfere with the democratic rights of the people, and announced that they are ready to continue the protests if this is not done. Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Trade Union Convenor Alliance Ranjan Jayalal too announced his the union’s support and allegiance to the protest, while declaring displeasure at the alleged move to sell off and privatise 50 major State sector companies.  “Today, CEB employees will throng to Hyde Park, alongside Ports Authority employees, telecommunication sector employees and banks’ employees, and we will call on the Government to leave with dignity. If they don't, we will chase them out. Look at the example of Rajapaksa being chased out by not a majority of the country's population, but a minority around Galle Face. We urge all employees of the CEB islandwide to come to Hyde Park to stand against this Government, which is selling your blood, sweat, and tears.”  Meanwhile, Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara questioned the intentions behind the protest scheduled to take place today. Addressing the media yesterday, he queried: “Why did we have an ‘aragalaya’ (struggle)? It was due to the fuel crisis, gas shortage, and illegal activities. First, it was a peaceful protest, but gradually became violent. But now, what problems are they presenting to justify these protests? Do they not have fuel or gas? They are protesting to release people who are under trial and have been punished by the courts. They are violating the peace and freedom in the country for people to go about freely.  “By this, they are also preventing the inflow of tourists into the country, and also foreign investments with protests every day in the country. This does not mean that the people don’t have a right to protest, but they should protest for the right reasons. These protests are happening against judicial decisions delivered according to the rule of law. Are the intentions of this protest to divert the tourists coming into the country, or to divert the foreign exchange, or else to go before the Human Rights Council after being attacked by tear gas, or to dishonour Sri Lanka in the international arena and then prevent support from other nations?”


More News..