Massive multi-sectoral Colombo protest 2 Nov. to oust Govt.

Over 100 political parties, trade unions (TUs), student movements, and civil organisations, including the main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the Opposition’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU), the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF), and the Young Journalists’ Association of Sri Lanka (YJASL), which signed a joint statement to defeat the “suppressive programme of the current Government led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe”, have planned to hold a massive protest in Colombo on 2 November, which they declare to be the “first step in ousting Wickremesinghe and the Government”.

Representatives from several political parties, trade unions, student movements, and civil organisations, including SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman, Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya (SVB) 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 signed a joint statement against the Government’s programme of suppression, in Colombo yesterday (25).

The said protest, according to those who spoke to the media yesterday, will be held in the form of a protest march, which will start from the Elphinstone Theatre in Colombo 10 at 3 p.m. on 2 November, and then proceed towards Colombo.

Speaking to the media at the time, Rahuman said that the SJB has expressed its full support for the protest to be held on 2 November in Colombo, and that Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa will also participate. He said that the SJB has decided to support the protest as it feels the Wickremesinghe-led Government is continuously suppressing the people, including political parties, civil organisations, and student movements who are speaking up against the Government. 

“Students and civil activists are being arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA) for no reason. Peaceful protests are suppressed by the Police and the Security Forces. All these things are taking place when the international community is expecting the President and the Government to protect the democratic rights of the people. However, as such rights are not protected, we, the SJB, will fully support this protest, and will continue this fight until this suppression is stopped,” he added. 

Premachandra, speaking to the media, said that although Wickremesinghe came to power saying that he would rebuild the country’s economy, the Government led by him is suppressing the people standing up for their rights. She said that several groups such as political parties and civil organisations have been holding demonstrations at different locations against the President and the Government in the recent past, but that they have come together, as they have now realised that they cannot defeat the Government’s suppressive programme alone. 

“As the SVB, we will get a lot of women to participate in this protest. Premadasa also said that he will get all SJB MPs to participate in this. If we deposed a family that the people thought could never be sent home (a reference to the families of former Presidents Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mahinda Rajapaksa), sending Wickremesinghe home is not that difficult. The protest on 2 November will be the first step of the programme to send the President and the Government home before the end of this year. As I have said on several occasions, the end of October will mark the end of Wickremesinghe. When all the people come out of their homes, even the Police will not be able to stop them,” she said.

Jayagoda also said that the FSP has decided to give its maximum support to the protest to be held on 2 November. He said that according to the current Government’s programme, it has no solution except suppression. For instance, he said that when the trade unions rise up against some issue, the Government is taking action such as the declaration of emergency regulations and essential services, and the prohibition of protests. He also claimed that the Government continues to suppress student movements and the media, and that that programme must be brought to an end through the people’s power. 

Meanwhile, Nagamuwa who also spoke to the media said that when there is a consensus being built between the people and the Opposition parties, the Government is using various tactics to destroy it. The talks about the formation of an all party Government and offering Ministerial posts to Opposition MPs were examples of such attempts, he said, and added that the Rajapaksas will rise up again if the Opposition parties do not work together to defeat their attempts.

Speaking to the media, Stalin claimed that the Government led by Wickremesinghe is clearly carrying out a suppressive programme. He said that the detention of IUSF Convenor Wasantha Mudalige and Inter-University Bhikkhus’ Federation Convenor Ven. Galwewa Siridhamma Thera under the PTA, and the arrests of several others participating in the “aragalaya” (the people’s struggle) are prime examples of the Government’s suppressive programme. Claiming that it is the current Government that dragged the country into a serious economic crisis, Stalin said that the Government representatives are, however, attempting to establish themselves, making statements that they can bring the country back to normalcy. 

“We have signed a joint statement against the Government’s programme and several parties such as the SJB have expressed their support for this protest. In addition, we are currently in discussions with some other parties such as the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). Our main demands to the Government are to repeal the PTA, release Mudalige and Siridhamma Thera and all others who are being detained under the PTA unfairly, stop blocking and obstructing peaceful protests and assaulting and arresting those who participate in such, release all those who have been arrested by the Police for engaging in the people’s struggle, prosecute Police officials and other relevant officials who ordered to obstruct peaceful protests, and scrap the controversial Rehabilitation Bureau Bill which legalises suppression,” he said.

Rodrigo said that the Government is carrying out massive suppression just as it was during the Rajapaksa-led Government. Under that programme, he said, those who stood up against injustice and issues such as the rising cost of living and hunger, have been detained under suppressive legislation such as the PTA. Therefore, he said that all Opposition parties and civil organisations should come together to defeat the current Government’s programme. He said that the IUSF will fully support the protest to be held on 2 November, and invited the people to join it.

Speaking to the media, Ali said: “Let’s show the whole world the power of the people. On 9 July 2022, the people came together to end the dictatorial rule in this country and we have had to do it again. Let’s all come together and show our power. When the suppression of the Government is at its maximum level, let us come together again as citizens, and defeat the current problem of the country, the dictatorship. We can do it by keeping aside all differences such as party, colour, religion, caste, and language. The Government is trying to suppress us by using the Police Ordinance brought during the colonial period. We are not afraid of it at all, and we will definitely hold this protest on 2 November.”