Against the repression of the Sri Lankan government, protests were carried out in Colombo ’empty’ facade. ‘SHE TALKS’, a women’s organization, launched the graduation ceremony.
The organization notes that peaceful protestors have been arrested and detained using laws such as the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and have organized this protest against police actions.
The organizations say that they are not going to give up their protests due to fear of repression.
The flag was flown using portraits of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and others.
Advocate Thilini Hewawitharanake, a member of the organization ‘SHE TALKS’, says that peaceful protesters are being arrested using laws including the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Advocate Thilini Hewavidharanake
“Especially through this we hope to make a demand that the basic rights of Sri Lankan citizens guaranteed in the constitution are protected and respected. During his regime we observed that people who fought for peace were arrested using the Public Property Act and the Archeology Act. Meanwhile, the government and the police made efforts to detain him without bail. Similarly, using the Prevention of Terrorism Act, peaceful protestors were detained in an unusual manner,” he said.
“Let’s keep fighting”
Advocate Nirupa Cherasingh
Advocate Nirupa Cherasinghe states that there is no other solution except for everyone to fight together.
“At this moment when the country is forced to beg without a dollar, Ranil alone cannot take this country forward by abandoning the world. Ranil has to show peace in the country if he wants to get help from the world. The basic rights of the people should be protected and displayed. We cannot understand what they are going to do despite it,” says Nirupa.
“Let’s resist oppression“
“We are not going to be afraid of oppression. If possible, arrest them and show them. We have no fear. We will unite. We must tell people that this is a serious problem rather than the daily problems. Let us unite. There is no other solution but unity,” says lawyer Nirupa Cherasinghe.
In this situation, Langa de Silva says that he will fight against oppression until he gets a solution.
Lanka de Silva
“We held protests against the corrupt regime. But they treat us like terrorists. Talented children like Vasantha Mudalike have been arrested and jailed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. We show our opposition through degrees. It’s not going to end at this point. We will raise our voices against oppression until we get a solution for us,” says Lanka de Silva.
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