Video: Ranil, SF join rally

28 September 2012 08:48 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 98 Bookmark

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UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe, former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, JVP leader Somawanshe Amarasinghe and a host of other political leaders are currently participating at the rally held in Hyde Park by the University lecturers.

Ven. Dambara Amila thero is currently addressing the rally which is held amidst a large participation of political leaders, activists and students, forcing the closure of roads around Hyde Park corner.

Avoid Hyde Park
All roads leading to Hyde Park are closed due to the ongoing rally of the University Lecturers. Accordingly, Union place from Jaic Hilton and part of Darley road leading up to Hyde Park have been closed.

Dr. NIrmal Ranjith Dewasiri is currently addressing the rally which began a short while ago, with many civil society movements, political parties, student groups participating in it.

Protestors gather at Hyde Park
All protestors have now gathered at the Hyde Park, with Politicians from different political parties also joining the protesters.

A rally titled 'Save state education' is to begin shortly at the grounds. UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Sujeewa Senasinghe, Harsha De Silva together with JVP leader Somawanshe Amarasinghe, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, NSSP leader Wickremabahu Karunarathne joined the protest march which proceeded towards the Hyde Park.

Joint protest of FUTA and IUSF starts
The University lecturers were greeted by the IUSF students and currently both parties are protesting at the Lipton Circus.

FUTA to join IUSF
The University lecturers’ march is proceeding towards the Lipton Circus and will join with the Inter University Students; Federation’ demonstration shortly.

All roads leading to Town Hall closed
All roads leading to Town Hall have been closed as the Inter-University Students protest march reached Town Hall, causing heavy traffic jam, reporters said. Police advise vehicles users to use alternate roads as all the roads leading to Town Hall closed.

Protest marches head towards Colombo
Two separate protest marches – one by the University lecturers and the other by the Inter University Students Federation are nearing Colombo causing heavy congestion along the Galle Road and the Baseline Road, our reporter said. The University lecturers are set to proceed to Hyde Park Corner Colombo, for the main rally on Friday evening.

All roads leading to Town Hall have been closed as the Inter-University Students protest march reached Town Hall, causing heavy traffic jam, reporters said.

FUTA protest march

Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana
IUSF protest march

Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Comments - 98

maroon Friday, 28 September 2012 01:32 PM

Mervin !! Malaka !!! where are guys ???

5 3

Saman Saturday, 29 September 2012 12:02 AM

Yeah It is for the future of the generations to come. Be happy bro

0 7

gonnamba Friday, 28 September 2012 11:37 PM

we know now who is the donkey

1 7

Anil Samarawickrama Friday, 28 September 2012 11:39 PM

You cannot use force all the time to control the opposition. The more you stupid Jokers try to supress democratic rights of the people, the more they will revolt against you. Intimidation, murder and thuggery cannot rule for ever. You will be forced out and every penny you Jokers jointly robbed will be recovered to develop the Nation.

1 4

Lukru Friday, 28 September 2012 08:57 PM

Do you know how much of the GDP is spent on defense ministry?
Do you know how much money and resources are spent on a Minister and his/her staff?
Do you know how much money is wasted on foriegn tours?
Do you know how much money is lost due to corruption?

Please do get the facts straight before you make emotional arguments.

3 6

rohan Friday, 28 September 2012 07:24 PM

you idiot didn't you know that they were coming why did not you go to the airport earlier. Good for you

0 8

Rahu Friday, 28 September 2012 07:08 PM

Human should go 3 hours ahead of departure.... Finally you have become a Donkey

0 6

Arun Friday, 28 September 2012 06:31 PM

What I was proved right by that respected Buddhist Monk on Swarnawahini. He said, we got the support from UNP, JVP, and etc etc political parties. At the assembly at Hyde Park Corner, the head of the table were opposition members. HAHA

2 2

John Friday, 28 September 2012 01:54 PM

At least in difficult times as these, all communities jointly participate for a common cause - there's hope for Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans?

5 12

maroon Friday, 28 September 2012 01:34 PM

ohh yeaa, london bridge is falling down falling down my lanka mother

6 5

Lasantha Friday, 28 September 2012 01:32 PM

Why aim for free stuff , get out there and do the hard hard , work part time ( Productivity for the Country ) and pay for the education. When you pay from your own money there want be any more closer of Universities. This is the only way forward for any developing country. Our forks In Sri Lanka expecting everything for free. I am not a government supporter but I can see there view on this clearly. This is more of a political agenda Fired up by all the opposition parties. Nothing to do with free education on this rally.

7 7

Junior Citizen Friday, 28 September 2012 01:32 PM

Rash, those croooks are frighting higher salaries- not for children of stupid fathers

27 13

wasanthi Friday, 28 September 2012 01:14 PM

DHA you are really a donkey. to drive behind demos. this is miracle of Asia. sorry.

3 10

Weerakon Friday, 28 September 2012 01:06 PM

The university-teachers are the most intellectual people in any country with compare to other profession, but they behave as uncivilized, savaged people, and they use often vulgar language “Karau, Diyau” to show their anger on the road. It is obviously shame! As an ordinary man I see this strike of the University-teacher in other manner; they are selfish, they are foolish and at all they are not suitable this profession. The reason is that, if the government increase the salary for the teachers, then the raise of taxes of normal people is obviously increased, poor people’s provident funds are cut down, the various development projects in Island wide are reduced and stop. As a result, it may crease un-employments, More children can suffer under starvation. Furthermore, Crime can be increased due to the poverty.

6 13

Student Friday, 28 September 2012 12:51 PM

We can't be isolated as a country. have to move with the world.. private education should be brought about while keeping state education in a certain level

2 10

Student Friday, 28 September 2012 12:46 PM

Wrong

8 8

Student Friday, 28 September 2012 12:45 PM

cheap politically motivated!!

10 12

Student Friday, 28 September 2012 12:43 PM

Well said!!!

13 10

samara Friday, 28 September 2012 12:36 PM

long live free education,

1 12

ProtestBuster Friday, 28 September 2012 12:22 PM

These fools are politically driven. Our universities are closed most of the time and students are real "pappas" when they finally leave with their degrees.
These idiots should be tear gassed and water jetted.

9 9

Wilson Thilakaratna Saturday, 29 September 2012 08:56 AM

didn't you know alternate routes to the airport.?

0 2

Jaya Sunday, 30 September 2012 09:54 AM

or.. how sad it is ?

0 0

Manik Saturday, 29 September 2012 08:51 PM

Today (29th) I saw in TV how two uneducated jokers of the UPFA, Vermin and Modawansa analyzing the Uni crisis. What a sad state of affairs.

0 1

Jagath Saturday, 29 September 2012 04:29 PM

Many parents are sacrificing their meals, pleasure and whole life to educate their children. Govt. has no priority and planning and absolute wastage of peoples money and resources. When the nation is bleeding they import duty free luxury vehicles. Where is their brains....

0 0

Upali Wickramsinghe Saturday, 29 September 2012 02:16 PM

Lasantha you do not seem to understand what is happening

0 0

Upali Wickramsinghe Saturday, 29 September 2012 02:15 PM

War Elephant: There were over 150 state institutions in 1977.Of this over 125 were sold to the private sector. Today only about five of those sold are functioning. Distillaries , Wall Tiles,DI are a few. Forget about the efficiency of the private sector.What the buyers did was to sell off all the assets and claim that they are calling themselves bussinesmen. One of the greatest failures are the four sugar factories.They sold the alcohol and closed the units even disposed of the buildings brick by brick

0 0

Ranjith Saturday, 29 September 2012 02:03 PM

Ranil, SF & Some are in the platform of Uni teachers.Now the cat is out fo the bag. People will understand the motive of these protests & who instrument the problems...Ha.....Ha

1 0

Aba Saturday, 29 September 2012 12:04 PM

MR does not agree for LOST-WIN because his history with full of winning gainst the other. However, it seems now you are loosing ground.

0 0

Cobbler Saturday, 29 September 2012 11:39 AM

D-onkeys H-ave A-rsesm

0 2

Wilson Thilakaratna Saturday, 29 September 2012 08:58 AM

They know that they get it with areas.

2 0

Gunaruwan Friday, 28 September 2012 12:01 PM

Agree. I also were there. 80% are full time carders of different political parties

16 13

hb Saturday, 29 September 2012 06:13 AM

Hats off to my teachers/lecturers who have sacrificed so much for the future generations. Its so easy to end this. All what the govt needs is to do is to admit that 6% is necessary for education and come-up with a 10 year long term plan to achieve it gradually.

1 4

Sagarika Saturday, 29 September 2012 05:45 AM

I salute the University Lecturers who have not drawn their Salaries for 3 MONTHS! overcoming threats,intimidation, bribes and sweeteners! for the future of education in Sri Lanka! I feel our younger generation is in safe hands!

1 4

Sagarika Saturday, 29 September 2012 05:40 AM

for what saving the future of State Education?????

0 2

Sagarika Saturday, 29 September 2012 05:34 AM

Where u there?

1 2

Ansushka Himali Saturday, 29 September 2012 03:57 AM

sue the FUTA and IUSF

4 0

Sandy Saturday, 29 September 2012 03:29 AM

yes,so selfish!

1 5

Manik Saturday, 29 September 2012 02:56 AM

What percentage of Sri lankan population can afford to send their children to private unis in SL. Most of them can't even afford three balanced meals a day thanks to the cost of living jacked up by the "chinthanaya".

3 5

Lobo Saturday, 29 September 2012 01:54 AM

The radios, papers and even phone updates announced the traffic jams and you drove straight into it? So whose the donkey now?

1 8

Al Rasa Friday, 28 September 2012 09:46 AM

There is no employment oriented education system in Sri Lanka that is why I meant if you cant understand then you are the biggest fool.

13 20

shantha madawela Friday, 28 September 2012 10:22 AM

well done......go ahead.....

14 27

matara man Friday, 28 September 2012 10:17 AM

Al Rasa' , you shuold appologise about your comment, if not your children will be end up as Street beggers not the coconut pluckers. Be mindfull Man

16 29

jana Friday, 28 September 2012 10:06 AM

You really don't know what your talking about then, because the way its going, without the introduction of private universities, is that 20,000 students go to university and the rest go to the farms, at least if there are private uni's no one will have to go out of the country.

49 113

Thara Friday, 28 September 2012 09:57 AM

This was informed one week ago. U should have find alternative route if you have to catch a flight. I'm still wondering, who is the real donkey is?

16 77

dilu Friday, 28 September 2012 09:58 AM

You are worrying on your flight which can be settled within few hours but we worry on our kids education which can not be easily restored if we loose it. .

21 57

Arachchi Friday, 28 September 2012 09:57 AM

well said bro

27 157

Arun Friday, 28 September 2012 09:56 AM

Feel sorry for you bro.

5 39

Arun Friday, 28 September 2012 09:54 AM

This is totally politically motivated. They are claiming that Sri Lankan Govt is only allocation some small percentage from the GDP for education compared to other countries. There are other factors you need to consider before comparing to other countries, like total population, total student population, the ratio of student to total population. This is really stupid and politically motivated.

42 31

Wara Friday, 28 September 2012 09:46 AM

More than 80% are neither teachers nor students. All of them are JVP full time cardres.

42 25

Rahul Raj Friday, 28 September 2012 09:44 AM

pls remove SB from the ministerial post. we dont want him..he corrupted samurdi and now he started corrupting free education system also. many poor students are suffering and lost their hopes

9 38

Shiran Friday, 28 September 2012 09:46 AM

One idiot has lost his flight and shouting now, as he haven't read or listen to a single news these days, there are plenty of alternatives to airport. at least now he know there is a issue in the county.

28 86

Rubert Vanderkoon Friday, 28 September 2012 09:44 AM

For a coconut estate, you can ask not only your local politician but your tuition master professor as well. But you may have to wait, prof will be busy these free days travelling abroad to see his children in foreign universities.

6 26

Hal Friday, 28 September 2012 10:25 AM

Watch out for the budding future Education Minister and his father. They may be there to get a glimpse what an university education means. It is not confined to the walls of the campus.

8 21

Nihal Amarasekera Friday, 28 September 2012 09:38 AM

Waterloo or Water Cannon.

5 10

MAMA Friday, 28 September 2012 09:37 AM

WOW, AT LAST SOMETHING DIFFERENT!

9 37

V Andrew Friday, 28 September 2012 09:39 AM

Do you really believe that this government would listen?

6 26

Rubert Vanderkoon Friday, 28 September 2012 09:32 AM

If the students carry their books with them, they could have the classes at the Lipton Circus, because the teachers will be there too. If you take a bit further, university buildings can be used for other useful things.

61 32

Adam Friday, 28 September 2012 09:29 AM

If this issue was solved months ago, they won't be on the streets in the first place..

15 74

Reality Friday, 28 September 2012 09:18 AM

Please send your son to pluck coconuts or maybe you can do it.... If you need an estate to get emplyed maybe you can ask your local polititian... Sri Lankans like you are the reason that this country is in this state

17 104

ANTON Friday, 28 September 2012 09:18 AM

Is there a shortage of tear gas and water.

9 40

Rage Friday, 28 September 2012 09:20 AM

With all due respect, lets not cause traffic cogestion. Just because your suffering lets not make all the motorists suffer. There are many ways of doing peaceful protests and campaign which make more noise than an public protest.

45 28

rash Friday, 28 September 2012 09:15 AM

those men are fighting for ur child's education tomorrow, but yeah u might be one of them who can afford to send ur child abroad for studies

61 295

nalin Friday, 28 September 2012 09:11 AM

If you can destroy the country and allow other countries to destroy our country. take a lesson from Libiya.!!!

49 27

Al Rasa Friday, 28 September 2012 09:04 AM

Too much of students are in Sri Lanka. So in future there is hardly any one to be found even to pluck coconuts. See India no much more local students and as a result commodities are grown and their prices also less.

131 22

dkp Friday, 28 September 2012 11:14 AM

This losers ‘wasting time go back and finish your degree before too old

29 19

Muzzammil Friday, 28 September 2012 11:57 AM

If this government cannot invest on education and do not want to build up state education, they are indirectly saying no education to the poor. Let their education be at the lowest level possible. Those who have money and could afford get into the private universities and get your self education. Do you know the results. IN years after the private universities are established we will have Education for Sale. Degrees for Sales. Education super markets. Why can't one witness what is happening now with all these education exhibition by foreign universities. Let join hands and we shall overcome some day

10 21

Darsh Friday, 28 September 2012 11:42 AM

this was announced weeks a go still you missed flight due to this.not them You are a real donkey.

9 34

ling Friday, 28 September 2012 11:39 AM

This protest is mainly political motivated, I am just wonder our head of state do not hv any solution, how come can crash LTTE n not these?

14 16

Reality Friday, 28 September 2012 11:36 AM

So the public prefers to be uneducated so that you can go by one more ordinary day without disturbance?? Guess what.. your wish is granted!!!

Tomorrow there will be no people on the roads and no 6% of GDP for education

8 16

mail_guy Friday, 28 September 2012 11:35 AM

I guess the Government falling little by little.

20 28

Dexter Friday, 28 September 2012 11:32 AM

There is really no point talking to University students... they are a complete waste of resources. Free Education should be done away with, back in the day free education did bring out the best this nation has seen,,, But look at today, what do these Monkeys contribute to society, Think about it... The Govt must educate them for free till their like 25 ++ then find them Jobs... also.... utter madness !!!

Learn to value your education first ! and make something of it... So what if Sri Lanka has private education universities...At least those who pay for it will actually contribute to Sri Lanka... isn't that what we want???

Have any of you visited a Govt office, hospital , centre where the majority are these so called educated bunch are working.... Really !!!

11 26

Divanke Friday, 28 September 2012 11:28 AM

I think putting up with the traffic should be done. The cause is much bigger than you'll getting late one friday evening!!!!!

9 19

kingasanga Friday, 28 September 2012 11:29 AM

why this lectures think about 6% allocation suddenly. Are we spend 6% on national income before?

11 9

DHA Friday, 28 September 2012 08:58 AM

......I missed my flight because of these donkeys......

373 106

Fonseka Friday, 28 September 2012 11:05 AM

This kind of protest should not be allowed causing many difficulties to the public

27 22

lahiru Friday, 28 September 2012 11:03 AM

don't be so selfish

12 29

Mikee Friday, 28 September 2012 10:56 AM

The guy who missed the flight is so selfish that he values his personal interest more than a thousand youth who are fighting for a cause.

15 37

yehiya Friday, 28 September 2012 10:50 AM

This struggle with for our future kids.

12 29

rajitha Friday, 28 September 2012 10:47 AM

They want to show the world as Sri lanka is hosting T20. Good the world will know democracy is still very much alive in this country .

9 22

Fonseka Friday, 28 September 2012 10:41 AM

This is like a fun. They don't get a solution for the problem. Just wasting time & money

22 19

Professor Friday, 28 September 2012 10:34 AM

And one of that chap deaming to become a Education Minister in SL just think about education level another 5-10years time.

12 52

shantha Friday, 28 September 2012 10:29 AM

u can get next one

14 36

Hal Friday, 28 September 2012 10:30 AM

May be you are a coconut plucker!!

11 14

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