Friday Dec 13, 2024
Monday, 14 March 2022 00:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday called on the public to gather in Colombo tomorrow for a mass protest against the Government where it will issue a one-month ultimatum to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to get the country back on track.
“We will go to the place the President is in tomorrow and issue an ultimatum to him to set things right. Otherwise, we will intensify our protests similar to the Arab Spring campaigns that led to the downfall of many Governments with people’s power,” SJB MP Harin Fernando said.
He called on the people not to sit at home and complain about the rising cost of living and shortages but to take to the street to show their anger at the way the Government is mismanaging the economy and plunging the country into the worst economic crisis since independence.
“We are coming to Colombo on the 15th. We will issue the ultimatum to the President that day and if he is not willing to change, we will intensify our protests. The SJB does not want to topple the Government with protests but we can’t keep silent when the Government has failed in everything and the public are paying a heavy price,” Fernando told journalists yesterday.
While the SJB will lead the protests, Fernando called on all Opposition forces including the JVP to join hands with them to protest.
He said the SJB would not be deterred by threats and intimidation by the Government of its opponents and vowed to keep the momentum going as long as the rulers fail to address the needs of the common man and bring down the cost of living and address other related issues.