A major opposition demonstration against the violence unleashed on unarmed protestors in Weliweriya earlier this month took an unusual turn when UNP members leading the demonstration decided to defy a court order and stage a march down Galle Road.
The Enough is Enough rally garnered significant traction in the past week, leading police to go to court this morning to request a court order to block the demonstration.
The Colombo Magistrate denied the request but authorised the use of minimal force to stop the demonstration from becoming a public nuisance by blocking main roads in the city.
A force of about 350 riot policemen were deployed to marshall protestors.
Police used several buses and formed human walls to prevent the demonstrators from marching beyond the Lotus Road Roundabout. Angry protestors threw stones at the bus blockade in an attempt to break through the barricade. A tense standoff ensued between police and protestors but UNP MPs climbed on buses to calm the crowds.
Weliweriya residents and the monk who led the water demonstration in the area also participated in the protest.
According to eyewitness accounts, the Opposition rally managed to garner a crowd of between 800-1000 protestors.
Calling it the Enough is Enough rally, opposition activists led by the United National Party gathered in front of the Fort Railway station to demand answers about who gave the military orders to shoot unarmed protestors and why the army used live bullets instead of riot police gear to disperse the crowds. Staunchly anti-regime posters, placards and masks were wielded by protestors who demanded among other things, the resignation of the Defence Secretary over the Weliweriya shootings.
Once the speeches ended, Opposition MPs led the crowds on a march towards Galle Face. Former UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya led the march and was joined by a host of other legislators including Harsha De Silva, Harin Fernando, Ravi Karunanayake, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Eran Wickremaratne and UNP National Organiser Daya Gamage.
Three young men were killed and dozens injured when the military was deployed to crush a residential demonstration in the Gampaha District town of Weliweriya on August 1. Residents have accused the army of firing live ammunition into the crowd. At least two of the fatalities were victims of gunshot
Chandra / August 15, 2013
What exactly does it mean:-“Colombo Magistrate denied the request but authorised the use of minimal force to stop the demonstration from becoming a public nuisance by blocking main roads in the city”
Would this not come back to “haunt” by the use minimal force?
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Halo / August 17, 2013
Twice the minimal force equals a major force.
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K.A Sumana sekeritations a / August 15, 2013
Groovy and Hip guys and gals were the main component and the front runners in the Arab Spring in Cairo, before they evicted their Prez of the prolateriet.
What do we have here?
Mostly the squares from Weliveriya and a few Colombo suburbs.
Isn’t Ranil Wicks, the Leader of the Bourgeosie in Colombo which encompases the rich and powerful Sinhala Buddhists and Catholics, the Aglicans,Rich Muslims and of course the Vellalas.
Isn’t the current agtations against the Govt solely to fullfil their wish list?.
Looking at these clips frame by frame even , didn’t reveal any of the reps from the above groups for this start of the “Nationwide Weliveriyas” ,according to Mr Mangala Samaraweera, the champion of “minorities”.
Supporters of Ranil must be pissed off or rather disheartened, that he couldn’t even get the slightly hip looking Hiran and old groovy Roseie in the picture, to give it some spice at least , because there was no turbulence .
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rajiv / August 15, 2013
Keep licking the boots of your masters you pathetic piece of s**t.
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gamini / August 15, 2013
I do not know whether it is Ranil’s supporters who are pissed off, but certainly this MF seem PISSED OFF after seeing the crowd fearlessly getting on to the roads knowing the consequences of Weliweriya. Great Show indeed. I was there myself.
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Patriot / August 16, 2013
How could you talk of a ‘Great Show’ from a basement in Suffolk. I for one saw the whole thing with my own eye. And there were no mass of a crowd. Nothing like the one that Gamini Athukorala organised protest in 2000 in Nugegoda against Chandrika. All in all, there couldn’t have been more than 3,000 in this one. Aim of the organizers had been to disrupt public activity. But it was a total failure.
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gamini / August 17, 2013
Patriot why don’t you enjoy your sabbatical without pissing here on CT.
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Seelawathie / August 17, 2013
You dimwit, how can you estimate it in that way in a country, innocent protesters are being killed by army soldiers ?
You and the ilk should have the mouth on the other end to leave this kind of comments.
Weliweriya issue has psychologically affected on the masses acrross the country. Donkeys of your sort would take long to grasp it.
Decent politicians like RW deserve the leadership to reawake the nation. Not just one single factors, thousands of grounds are there UNP to be seen as weak today.
See alone the idiots – totally corrupted mind sets like Dayasiri, and the ilk of genetically selfish minded people, are in the country today. Law amendments so that those can cross over – like RILAW (white monkeys) DO is the other great problem the nation faces today. Majority stupid folks – making up idiots or just totally ignorants – stay as if they are hallozinated, powerless.
This is the saddest situation of the nation today.
Not anyone but the idiot folks shold be accountable for the appalling levels in the country we face today…. BUDUMA BUDU SARNAI APITA :(
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Seelawathie / August 17, 2013
applogies:
Not anyone but the idiotic folks should be accountable for appalling levels of the deterioration of the society of ours today: Buduma BUDU SARANAI APITA :(
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Ben Dover / August 15, 2013
The text and tenor bear close similarity to our old friend Leela aka Hora Lee Potter aka K A Sumanasekera but the name appears to have sprouted a small valigeya…. is Sumane showing some sort of retrogressive evolution? No evidence of that from his words though…. what a loser he is!
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Peace Lover / August 15, 2013
hey leela of lee potter (sumanasekera) im not sure of ranils suporters are pissed but i can clearly see that your irritated,why is that machan?
just imagine if all those cheated under the lee potter scheme and their families come after you in a simlar but a smaller procession?
what will you do man? kiyapang macho kiyapang?
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mahela / August 16, 2013
Hay cracow Sumane,
You always play the same record over and over again all the time covering your comedy commission masters while licking their boots.
Yes Ranil is from a hi-class,well educated, from a well respected family and he carry his class with him. Ranil is well recognised both locally and Internationally. He is a honest and well respected politician who truly help all the citizens and communities in the country.
He is not the Pimp how buy whores from other opposition MPs giving bribes to get 2/3 majority in the parliament and to pass 18th amendment to screw the country. Only Kelawedda hora Kukulas do those type of politics.
Look at your big boss as to who are his companions. His companions are the most notorious Thugs, Murderers, Commission Kakkas, Alibabas, gangesters, Rapists, crimninals and Badu Bala Sena Buffalo army etc,etc. Does he has a class…..no. Has he been respected Internationally…..no. Why……
Nobody other than crooks and thugs respect Liars, cheaters, thieves and double game Comedy show Masters. This is the simple thuth. He won all the elections through fraudulent means…..like bribing VP, Bribing Buddhist Clergy, bribing opposition MPs to cross over and bribing and duping voters,Jailing Gen.Sarath Fonseka, Impeaching CJ Shirani Bandaranayake, Murdering Lasantha Wickrematunge, Prageeth Ekneligoda, while using all the gill marts in the world.
This is called Hambanthota MF son of a [Edited out] thug Master politics who even hoodwink the Buddhist Clergy and bribe them to get Nambu Nama. Nothing else.
That’s why the Bas….d who came to power through poor people screwed them in Weliweriya, in Katunayake, in Kelaniya, in Kahawatte and many other places. Only ungrateful MF bast….s do these cheap low grade stuff to own people. Cheaters always cheat.
I could write the history of your boss, and if you want to know more let me know here and I will write the character of the MF.
Therefore in future when you write comments, write the contents what you have to say and don’t write Fuc…g bull sh…t.
Yes Rosie was there at the Protest.
May be you missed your friend Kangetta, Atha Kota and Julampitiya Amare.
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Keerthi / August 17, 2013
‘Ranil Wicks, the Leader of the Bourgeosie in Colombo which encompases the rich and powerful Sinhala Buddhists and Catholics, the Aglicans,Rich Muslims and of course the Vellalas’.
KAS WOW, now doesnt that crowd from ‘rich & powerful to Vellas” sound nice respectful and decent? this what we want, Sumana.
We want the elite back in power.
We want the decent honest educated back in power.
So the rich and poor will be happy and hopes will be there, Law anf order will be maintained. Powerty will be vanished. Peace everywhere.
You sometimes say few good words too.
Cant wait to see the back of the Aborigines.
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gonbella / August 15, 2013
For those who did not get the point. This is a stand against government excesses. By gathering and walking together these brave men and women are telling the government ‘We will stand for our rights. We are not intimidated by your army or live bullets.’ I laud you brave souls for taking to the streets knowing what MOD is capable of.
‘Jayawewa’
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Ajith Kumara / August 15, 2013
You Idiot
These are not real sufferers but UNP Bath-gottas and NGO-Kokkas who sounds the agony of failing yet another spring attempt to topple the majority elected democratic government.
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Topa / August 15, 2013
Ajith Kumara – [Edited out]
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Jayantha / August 16, 2013
Ajith Kumara,
What an Idiot you are to say…..”majority elected democratic government.”
This is a Government which came to power by Bribing LTTE VP, Bribing opposition MPs to cross over, by Jailing Presidential Candidate Gen.Sarath Fonseka and through Computer Gilmart, and by using Fradulunt 18th Amendment with the help of Goon ex.CJ Sarath N.Silva.
Only you could tell this to Villege uneducated Gamaralas to say a democratic government.
.
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Kekille / August 17, 2013
Dear all, here there is a genius in this Ajith Kumara,
For him all are idiots.
When he says ‘majority elected’ bla bla bla
he reminds me the Evil Leela. Is he that famous Camel Urine Asanka?
UNP bath gottas, first time i heard. Most of the decent people are UNP supports unlike the rowdies IRCs who went for free bathpackets for Bathalawathie and now for MaRa.
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kk / August 15, 2013
look at how many people opposition have now
What a joke
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tasil samarasinha / August 15, 2013
It is very easy for the govt.to use state resources and bring people but for every 1000 from the govt.it is a big thing for the opposition to muster 1.I was there myself and took part in the march and can assure that there were many people there who have given there lives should the need have arisen.
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tasil samarasinha / August 15, 2013
sorry typing error should read their lives
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Jayantha / August 16, 2013
KK,
These people came for this protest voluntarily.
They are not like your Rajapakses who bring in lorry loads of buffalows paying them 500 rupees, giving them Bath Packet(rice packet) and a half bottle Arrack, wasting tax payer money transporrting them free from villages and giving them Divineguma funds and jobs etc, etc.
There’s a big difference between both, but next election will show how the Bribery master fares.
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Tikiri / August 16, 2013
Idiots like you would further represent the masses that are ready to do the job for rice packets. That is the ground reality.
Majority of the people are poor in the country. Today, bath packets can do even killings in the country. For that purpose those hungry people would rally around Rajapakses, but the people seen on UNP rallies are ones who genuinely want marauders to go home leaving us all in PEACE.. and harmony. we all respect the human values. Values that the murderers like MR cant sense.
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kk / August 22, 2013
You idiots talk same old story about bath packets, have a look at your leader how many elections he wins = 0 how many elections he is going to win =0 therefore keep dreaming
How many JVPers were killed under premadasa government , did people had peace at that time No
When Ranil supports LTTE SL people had peace no < Ravi said instead of alimankada army going to pamandakada ) rice eating donkey like you and jayantha UNP is good
Under MR people have peace , YES no more war
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Haramanis / August 15, 2013
I am writing this in case some people may have not seen it. It has been seen published elseware. It has come to light that the IGP dispatched a riot squad armed with water cannons and rubber bullets to stop the protests in Weliweriya and Rathupaswala. However, Anura Sananayake the Rajapakshe stooge had informed the local Gampaha police not to let the riot squad do their job but to hold them back. This was because Gothabaya Rajapakshe had dispatched army commandos to do the job with live rounds. The local police refused to testify at the court hearings later on because they know the real story. Instead another Rajapakshe stooge from a different police division was sent to court to give evidence. He lied splendidly to court covering up the facts. There should be an amendment made to the constitution banning elected leader from abusing public officials in raw filth a.k.a. Mahinda and Gothabaya style. There also has to be a ban on physical assault of public officials a.k.a. Mahinda style. Automatic impeachment should be the punishment for physical assault. Mandatory execution should be instituted for ordering the armed forces to engage in this type of activity.
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Jayantha / August 16, 2013
Haramanis,
Yes, I read the same news in another news web. In BBC Sandeshaya interview, IGP say that he did not want or never requested for an Army unit to subdue the Protesters.
It was while he was negotiating with the Protesters to calmly disperse them, suddenly the Army commandos appeared without his consent.
Also the Army commander say there was another OUTSIDE ARMY UNIT CAME ALONG WITH COMMANDOS WHO ACTUALLY STARTED SHOOTING AT THE PROTESTERS TO KILL THEM USING HI-CALIBER WEAPONS.
Also the Local Protesters say they never threw molotov cocktail or used Iron Rods at the Army. Then who are they who instigated violance……. They say there was a gang of outside criminal thugs who attacked Army with these who are not from their area.
Therefore the fingers are directed at Gota who pre-planned this operation by bringing in an outside criminal Thug gang (similar to the Hulsdorf criminal thug gang who ruled the streets during CJ Shirani Bandaranayke Impeachment) to instigate violance in Weliweriya and then used his criminal Mercenary Force to shoot at the people.
This is the Latest Rajapakse’s underground Criminal thug gang, Gota’s Private criminal STF Mercenary force, and BBS violant criminals army, using them for Criminal activities in Sri Lanka.
Wait and watch how the next Rajapakse genocide going to get unfold.
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Benjamin / August 15, 2013
The Dawn of Peoples Power !
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You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.
Abraham Lincoln, (attributed)
16th president of US (1809 – 1865)
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There is great need for the entire populace, of each province in this country to stage a peaceful protest to showcase the disgust of the continuous deception & show the whole world that the Majority of this land are against injustice & will not let dictatorship to triumph.
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Punchinilame / August 15, 2013
The numbers do not matter. Esentially a rightful democratic protest
despite an advice from the Courts. There is a live opposition but cannot
be effective due to the hidden strong-arm tactics of the bad regime.
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Vizzy Pooh / August 16, 2013
The Opposition has to wait till people are killed to do demos. Where were they when this problem was occuring. Why was this sort of demo not held 3 weeks ago. How much research on issues that are brewing does the opposition do. I am not writing n behalf of the government. But to be fair even the govt needs to be shaken up before falling into a pit. The Opposition and government both are the same and that is why governance is so bad.
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Tikiri / August 16, 2013
By far, RW is a decent politician. Those who attack him no real reasons but to defame him are a curse.
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mahela / August 18, 2013
With relating to UNP protest rally, I think Ranil should have done a much better job to present himself as opposition party leader.
His confidence, Personality and charisma to give confidence to the party supporters and to the general Public was insufficient. He has to win the general public and the only way is through effective speech.
He had not even come prepared to give an effective speech to the Public and to Media and failed to represent himself as an opposition Leader.
What is the reason RW talking about raising the minimum wage of working class Sri Lankans during the rally speech, while this protest was all about Rajapakse Dictatorial and Authoritrial Regime misusing their powers to Genocide poor people who voted for the regime when they were asking for drinking water.
If Ranil cannot prepare himself and draft his own effective speech, he should at least hire an outside professional organization to do the draft for his speech.He failed and did not capitalised the Protest to be more effective.
I think Sajith and the rest of the young UNP parliament members gave a much better effective speach and did a wonderful job.
People look for confident looking, Brave,foreward, effective speech, and a Strong Leadership to face Rajapakses. Not at a mere holy Pambaya.
I think our young UNPers, MP’s and the supporters did a wonderful job in the protest Rally and all my hats off to them. They stood up to the Rajapakses and should organise more rallies across Sri Lanka to get their message across.
Also there should have been more Posters, banners and cut outs during the protest. The PA system should have been upgraded.
Also the media did a wonderful job, and if the UNP team could send their own Video clips to Youtube will be a good idea.
Ranil should think seriously on an effective UNP Marketing game plan to face and challenge the born crook, Saradiel and Internationally notorious Robinhood Rajapakses. Also remember the opposition has to work double the amount to win elections.
Good luck to UNP……our party of Generations.
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Benjamin / August 18, 2013
Pls visit the page ,CT’s
northern Sinhaliztion -important new message included among the comments
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Peace Lover / August 29, 2013
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