SJB rally goes ahead with crowds thronging the venue
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) held a rally under the slogan ‘People’s Power against the Cursed Government’, yesterday (16) at the Galle Face Green roundabout. Despite the Government introducing revised health guidelines a few hours before the rally commenced, banning public gatherings and protests, the SJB mustered a large gathering. Roads leading to the Liberty Roundabout and Galle Face were blocked as protesters marched on the streets.
Addressing the gathering, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa ridiculed the Government for fighting the Opposition and for failing to notice the power of people that flocked around SJB after every failure of this Government.
“We have defeated the suppression of this corrupt system by holding the protest and have rejuvenated freedom of speech. The Government was attempting to use COVID-19 health guidelines as a ruse to suppress the Opposition and public freedom, instead of defeating the pandemic. There were many other political parties which held protests and ceremonies in the midst of the pandemic but no circulars or orders were issued to prevent them from going ahead. Those whom the Government favoured were given the freedom to hold protests ensuring their freedom of speech with no restrictions whatsoever but when it came to us they tried every means to curb the protest.
“The Government is moving backwards to the era of 1970s. The public has to stand in long queues to purchase dry rations, kerosene oil, gas, petrol and essential items. The Government that claims it is going through a foreign currency crisis and cannot afford to purchase crude oil was now proposing to import refined oil all of a sudden. This is an attempt to earn large commission through instant acquisitions,” Premadasa said.
MP Harin Fernando, Harshana Rajakaruna, Mujibur Rahman, Kavinda Jayawardena, Manusha Nananayakkara, S.M. Marikkar and other politicians attended the rally.
Meanwhile, heavy traffic was witnessed due to the rally where many wearing masks and following health guidelines.
(Source: Ceylon Today – By Nabiya Vaffoor)
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Brilliant!
At least the cursed government gave you the ability to gather again. How is the super spreading event organised by the SJB went?
This was a HIGHLY IRRESPONSIBLE act by the sjb. The Government, Health Department, and The Tri Forces are working against the odds to bring the pandemic under control. Don’t they have the “brains” to realise that they were acting recklessly with the health of the citizens purely for political reasons !! The Government should ban all gatherings until the pandemic is under control. Are these the people who think they are CAPABLE of forming a government ?? CITIZENS OF SRI LANKA beware of such IMPRUDENT political parties who DO NOT give a toss for the well being of the COUNTRY’s citizens.