The main opposition United National Party, Trade Unions led by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, Sarath Fonseka’s Democratic Party and the political parties and organisations in the “Vipakshaya Virodhaya” will participate in a mass protest march and demonstration against state oppression, social degradation and corruption and to push for the abolishment of the Executive Presidential system on Tuesday (28).
Organised by the Professional and Civil Society Collective an umbrella organisation of civil society organisations, religious associations and trade unions, the mass rally will take place at Hyde Park in Colombo at 3 p.m. The demonstration is aimed at battling the evils of a casino and drug culture and the ongoing suppression of media and dissidents under the UPFA Government on a common platform of opposition forces.
Three separate protest marches will commence from Lipton Circus, Gamini Hall at Darley Road and Hotel Nippon at Slave Island and converge at Hyde Park for the rally. Opposition parties are aiming to garner a large crowd in a show of force against the policies and tactics of the present administration.
Apart from the key opposition parties, the Democratic People’s Front, Nawa Sama Samaja Party, Mawubima Janatha Party, Ruhunu Janatha Party, Nawa Sihala Urumaya, Eksath Janatha Peramuna, National United Front and Our National Front will also take part in the Tuesday’s rally.
Percy / January 25, 2014
Once again demand the government to reduce electricity charge also.
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Dinuk / January 28, 2014
CT please we would like to see many more picture of this protest. Hope this effigy of Jarapassa was burned!!
Jarapassa regime is blocking the internet and information flow today on this protest march so please put up many more pictures for those who could not go to see and be glad that the Lanka Spring is finally happening!
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Sumith / January 25, 2014
King will send his thug army to disrupt this for sure…
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Kutti Machan / January 25, 2014
How appropriate the leadership to the rising civic unrest is being provided by the brutal former army commander and the former pol potist JVP. It’s a good sign that people in Sri Lanka are undergoing a total self-transformation. Things can only get better going foward!
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Native Vedda / January 26, 2014
Kutti Machan
Any news from TNA joining the protest rally?
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Spring Koha / January 26, 2014
Oh I say, nice one Native Vedda. I am not holding my breath in anticipation of an answer from Kutti Machan. However, I witnessed a chilling TORCHLIGHT JVP demonstration (about 30ish motorcyclists with pandu bearing pillion riders)outside Balangoda in 1987 and I would vouch for the electrifying effect it had on those who were there. In the newly-lit wonderland that is Colombo these days, wouldn’t it be nice to have something like that to dazzle our native Columb-ians and tourists alike. A sort of workers night races.
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Ben Hurling / January 26, 2014
Finally the opposition is doing something. I see a glimmer of hope.
There is more than enough power to dazzle Colombo if the opposition gets their act together.
I sincerely hope TNA will join us. And come out of their Tamil only Cocoon. Prove to rest of Sri Lanka that they care for the whole of Sri Lanka. Not just Northern Province. Stand in solidarity with rest of Sri Lanka.
If JVP, General Fonseka can make the transition, so can TNA.
Nothing better than toatl unity against tyranny.
Cheers!
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Native Vedda / January 26, 2014
Ben Hurling
“If JVP, General Fonseka can make the transition, so can TNA.”
Good point.
However the only unifying factor among UNP, JVP and Fonsey is their opposition to MR clan. Apart from this they are disparate parties who shun any common ideology.
In order to get the rest of the country behind this protest, these parties must recognise TNA’s concerns regarding Tamils.
Similarly is there a role for Muslims to play when their very existence is threaten by various state supported goons.
JVP while enjoying privileges provided by Provincial Councils, is opposed to any meaningful devolution. Basically its another Sinhala/Buddhist party with Pol Potish ambitions.
UNP may on paper say is for devolution when it comes to nitty gritty the party had backtracked on numerous times.
Fonseka doesn’t believe in democracy nor in unity in diversity.
What is there for TNA to support this protest?
In the past I have been urging you to write a common manifesto under which all people can unite with their diversity intact.
Hope J Muthu will assist you.
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whywhy / January 27, 2014
Native,Vipakshaye virodaya,why now at this crucial
election time?People know,these parties in protest,all
are at each other’s neck in elections and ideology.You
see Native,crowds in politics of Colombo,do have good
number of Muslim participation mixing with national
politics rather than centered around self interest and
that doesn’t mean there are no groups to represent
Muslim grievances.You know better,don’t you.
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Palmsquirrell / January 27, 2014
But do the other parties want the TNA participating fearing it might drive many Sinhalese into Rajapaksa’s hands even while they are fed up with how SL in being run.
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Ben Hurling / January 27, 2014
Palmsquirrell,
I think problem is, TNA despite being totally Sri Lankan, their political energy is totally invested elsewhere.
In Geneva, London & Ottawa etc. With Western hypocrites. All their eggs are in that basket.
Rather than with and in fellow Sri Lankans. Who are starting an uphill struggle to dislodge the dictator.
Kind of sad. For TNA. And for Sri Lanka.
I sincerely hope they will change their mind before too late.
Cheers!
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Palmsquirrell / January 28, 2014
TNA is rather hobbled by Rajapaksa government and their priority is to normalize life in the North and East. This might seem like narrow thinking by TNA but the North and East has problems on top of the problems common to all Lankans.
Ofcourse ideally TNA should stand for and support the Sinhala masses too, but they way the game is rigged, they can only play the cards afforded to them. And like I mentioned before, even if the TNA broaded their platform and appealed to the Sinhala masses, will the later even consider them? I don’t know the answer to this.
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Ben Hurling / January 26, 2014
Spring Koha,
“workers night races”.
Something along the lines of what dazzles Kiev, Ukraine these days is what Sri Lanka needs.
As long as it is non-violent and peaceful.
Cheers!
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Spring Koha / January 26, 2014
Ben Hurling; yes, ‘peaceful and non-violent’ should be the watchword and could be achieved with good organisation and leadership. However, the variable factor would be how such a demonstration would be viewed in the office of the all-powerful Defence Honcho. Will he tighten his voula and default to ‘shit-eating pig’ mode with his eyes bulging, and prepare to unleash his Rottweiler’s on our poor defenceless workers?
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Ivor Biggun / January 27, 2014
Dear Spring
Peaceful and non-violent is the order of the day, and this must stand in stark contrast to the terror tactics of the regime via their goons.
How about one a la the great Mohandas G? How about getting some old claptrap autos that no one wants? How about driving them innocuously in ‘formation’, of say 2-3 abreast at peak traffic along a few busy motorways near strategic locations? How about the autos suddenly developing mechanical trouble and stopping dead, strategically blocking the motorway? How about 2-3 of same claptraps taking up the rear, say after the traffic has well and truly jammed and doing the same thing at the end of the arterial block? How about the drivers pretending to open their bonnets and after fruitlessly ‘trying’ to fix their cars, give up, cross the street and exit via tuk-tuk? Will this get our lotus eaters take notice and see that something CAN be done to mark one’s protests?
Imagine the chaos the will create? Largely anonymously. How to unleash Rottweiler goons against this type of satyagraha? Can this be the beginning of a Gandhi-an movement of non-violent rejection of the terrible state of affairs we see today?
Ivor.
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Ben Hurling / January 27, 2014
Rotweilers will be unleashed for sure.
And will have to be dealt with appropriately as well. And will be dealt with. By the people.
Sri Lanka has no shortage of fearless men and women. Our recent history provides endless examples of that.
PS: Recall corrupt Mubarak’s Rotweilers. Once they rode horses right into the crowd at Tahrir Square. To break up the Demo. Instead “Rotweilers” ended up with broken limbs. Courtesy citizens at Tahrir Square.
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Native Vedda / January 27, 2014
Ivor Biggun
“and this must stand in stark contrast to the terror tactics of the regime via their goons.”
Terror tactics belongs to LTTE and JVP. Its been almost 5 years since LTTE was obliterated and JVP has been subdued by MR.
Terror has no place in this island.
What are you talking about?
One has the choice of being a patriot or traitor.
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Ivor Biggun / January 28, 2014
Dear Native Vedda
Are you serious mate? I said “in stark contrast” to the terror tactics of the regime, which means “strikingly unlike” the terror tactics of the regime.
I have never advocated any sort of terror tactics against anyone, and never will.
Ivor
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Native Vedda / January 28, 2014
Ivor Biggun
Thanks for your clarification.
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Spring Koha / January 28, 2014
Ivor Biggun: You have outlined exactly what I had in mind – peaceful and non-violent and something Mohandas himself will approve and be proud of. I shall espouse this plan when I next gather with my pals at the Salaka bar in Union Place (working MEN only)and see the reaction. Sadly our Defence Honcho WILL fight dirty and spoil the fun – inevitably there will be blood on the streets (and in Paradise Park) and we will be back to square one. But the thought of Duplication Road clogged with old bangers is very tempting indeed.
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Ivor Biggun / January 29, 2014
Dear Spring
I’ll be happy to join in the men’s only discussion at Salaka if you let me know the date and time.
Seriously, I think there is not sufficient intellectual effort being expended in trying to outsmart these bastards and their goons…. surely we have men and women of talent (and I don’t mean that shameless Hiru Knicker and her dolled up ilk who are being commandeered to rally the penis vote) who can sit around a table, brain-storm the process and then quietly execute their little plans that will surely gain momentum as things start to get hairy down in Colombo-watte?
Ivor Biggun (for Hiru!)
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Horikadey / January 25, 2014
As a political animal with little compunction, morality or integrity
Mahinda R is unique. Like Mussolini and Hitler he has schemingly subverted the system – judiciary, governance, law and order, the political opposition and system, the free press and much of civil society. The land is no less a Police-State, as Channel-4 recorded on Camera and as Rathika S from Canada will bear witness. The people are no less than the 4-leggeds in Orwell’s Animal Farm. That is neither being smart nor politically correct. It is sheer self-centered depravity. Like both in Germany and Italy, it will not last long.
Horikadey
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whywhy / January 27, 2014
JR sword is is so silvery and sharp and whoever possess it
doesn’t want to lose it.Is it JRJ who put the UNP in this
mess? Or did JRJ convert the left to the right for ever so
that there’s no real opposition to what he believed and
founded?
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Oma Yang / January 26, 2014
They will not come to protest as they will be silenced and the goon squad will be ready. Even better some executive decree will be made on Monday banning protest marches in SL.
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truth / January 26, 2014
Buses, trains will be stopped. These are the people who elected this govt. These are the people who were partner in crimes for every thing. Woke up too late. Hopefully something good should happen.
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Jayan / January 26, 2014
Only a powerful opposition, civil society organizations’ protests can force the corrupt rulers to enforce good governance. If the people keep silent, they will rob the nation’s wealth to the last red cent. Disregard all the differences and please attend this protest to show that the people of this country are sick and tired of their government’s corruption, nepotism & cronyism etc.
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nimal dunuhinga / January 26, 2014
[Edited out]
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Native Vedda / January 26, 2014
nimal dunuhinga
You don’t need to worry about regime change.
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John / January 26, 2014
Good move by opposition, just continue it, this govt. would fall.
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Vibhushana / January 26, 2014
This is not enough is it really? The Sinhala voter will not bring Ranil in until TNA’s problem is resolved.
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Lasantha Pethiyagoda / January 26, 2014
From time to time in any country, there needs to be change. Change should be welcomed as it provides opportunities for the upliftment of people’s lives. However, a politically designed “opposition” call to rally around is most probably an appeal to let them have a go at the pie, inferring its their turn… What would benefit Sri Lanka is some soul-searching and devising ways to improve the lot of the people rather than further enrich the politicians..
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Terrance Soysa / January 26, 2014
Finally the opposition is doing the right thing. Mahinda Rajapaksa & all his family members (Accept his wife) Should/Must be brought to Jsutice in the court of law. The most evil, ruthless Ruling party Sri Lanka has/had ever witnessed after Indipendence.
All the people MUST walk to street to protest & to remove him and brought to justice as same as they did in Egypt.
This Family & all there politicians(Mervyn,Keheliya,Gotabaya,basil,Chamal,Namal etc) are robbing the poor man. Broad day light they rob the poor. People should be dumb or Blind for not to remove him at any cost right now. This Family & ruling politicians with the leadership of Mahinda, They Kill, Rob, Taken the liberty of citizens of Sri Lanka.
Com’on you Sri Lankan’s Your country is no more better than Zimbabwe. Wake up. Get this moron & his family out.
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Liberal One / January 27, 2014
What? Opposing the suppression of media and dissidents is absolutely welcomed but opposing the casino culture? Is UNP seriously going to push for such an ultra leftist agenda? Do people in other countries go on demonstrations to oppose casinos? Such frogs in well!
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Native Vedda / January 28, 2014
Liberal One
“Do people in other countries go on demonstrations to oppose casinos? “
Does Sinhala/Buddhism encourage Casino economy which would have social and moral implication to the entire population.
There are lot of things you can learn from other countries, for a start democracy and not casino dents.
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Liberal One / January 28, 2014
Vaddo why do you hide behind Sinhalese and Buddhism which you despise so much for your ignorant fear of Casinos, aka frog in well mentality.
Sri Lanka is a democratic country, ideally religions should not be able to dictate terms here.
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Native Vedda / January 28, 2014
Liberal One
“Sri Lanka is a democratic country, ideally religions should not be able to dictate terms here”
Really?
Buddhism is dead in this island, therefore it doesn’t play a role in encouraging the moral development of people.
Come to think of it Sinhala/Buddhism has been helping the moral decadence of people.
Of course there is a role for the saffron clad thugs who will fight for their right to own and operate casinos.
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Liberal One / January 28, 2014
But saffron thugs are also opposed to casinos just like you leftist/pro-separatist/dollar-sucking crowd.
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Native Vedda / January 29, 2014
Liberal One
“But saffron thugs are also opposed to casinos just like you leftist/pro-separatist/dollar-sucking crowd.”
Are those saffron clad thugs for separate state? If true they shouldn’t they be working with LTTE diaspora rumps?
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