SJB bid for Aragalaya type agitation thwarted with police force

Scenes from the SJB led protest in Colombo yesterday which led to a mini riot. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

• Police used water cannons and tear gas resulting in a mini battlefield
• Protesters started running with police in riot gear chasing after them with batons
• Police had earlier obtained a court order preventing the SJB from entering the Presidential Secretariat, Temple Trees and government buildings

By Yohan Perera   

In what appeared to be an attempt by the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to instigate a mass agitation against the government in a manner reminiscent of the Aragalaya, was quelled with police force yesterday in Colombo.   

The SJB appeared to have organized such a protest to mobilize public opinion against the government in view of the presidential election slated to be conducted during the last quarter of this year – probably in September. Already, the National People’s Power- the political amalgam-led by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) - has started its political campaign with public rallies ahead of the election.   

The SJB led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa launched into this action, and its other leaders such as General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara even vowed to defy laws and stage the protest rally in the city by busing people to Colombo. MP Madduma Bandara even threatened to launch another Aragalaya-style agitation campaign to unseat the government. Probably, he would have made such utterances as a morale booster for his party’s supporters. The mobilization attempt was sparked by the exorbitantly high living costs.   
Hundreds of SJB protesters gathered first in the Town Hall area in front of the Buddha statue near Viharamahadevi Park. Afterwards, led by the party leaders, slogan shouting SJBers proceeded to Lipton Circus where they were shielded from entering the area by a ring of police officers including those from the Special Task Force (STF) and the anti-riot squad. However, defiant protesters headed towards the Public Library Junction along Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha only to be stopped by the police once again. It resulted in a heated confrontation of words between the police officers on duty and the SJB leaders such as MP Madduma Bandara and former MP Mujibur Rahman. It triggered an angry reaction from SJB supporters armed with clubs and rocks. They tried to clash with police, shouting at them as well.    The Police used water cannons and tear gas  resulting in a mini battlefield. The SJB protesters started running helter-skelter with police in riot gear chasing after them with batons. The traffic flow was disrupted during the rush hour as a result.   

The police had earlier obtained a court order preventing the SJB from entering the Presidential Secretariat, Temple Trees and government buildings.    Following Aragalaya which chased out former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from office, the government led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe is taking a tough line on demonstrators fearing that any mass demonstration would destabilize the country and derail the reform agenda under implementation by his government along with the International Monetary Fund. 

Shame on Ranil: Sajith

By Yohan Perera   

The Leader of the Opposition yesterday accused the government of attacking unarmed civilians and also condemned the government’s move to prohibit protests in the vicinity of the Presidential Secretariat, calling it a shameful act.

“It is a shame on the President and the government to attack innocent unarmed people. We have heard that protests near the Presidential Secretariat and other places have been banned. A future SJB government will turn the Presidential Secretariat into an IT university,” he said.    Speaking to protesters after the tensed situation on  Anagarika Dharamapala Mawatha, Mr. Premadasa pledged that the present government will be toppled as soon as possible.   

“We will be responsible for the people in this country, we will take care of the youth, the, elderly and the children,” Mr. Premadasa said speaking to protesters after the tensed situation eased.    Mr. Premadasa was not seen at the forefront when police fired at SJB protesters with water cannons and tear gas. However he appeared later and then began addressing the people. SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said tear gas was fired at the stage where Mr. Premadasa and others were present.

Policemen and protesters injured

By Yohan Perera   

Police Spokesman Nihal Thalduwa yesterday confirmed that few policemen were injured in yesterday’s protest while Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) also said some of its partymen were also injured and hospitalized.   

“There were some policemen injured in the commotion but I am still to receive a report in protest,” Mr. Thalduwa said.   

SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said around five party supporters including former MP Mujibur Rahaman was injured and hospitalized. However sources at the Accident Ward of the Colombo National Hospital said no politician was admitted to the hospital.