2022 Sri Lankan protests
2022 Sri Lankan protests | |||
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Date | 16 March 2022 – present | ||
Location | Sri Lanka, Demonstrations by Sri Lankan communities in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States and many other countries | ||
Caused by |
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Goals |
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Methods | Demonstrations, Internet activism, rioting | ||
Status | Ongoing
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Lead figures | |||
Largely unorganized and decentralized leadership. | |||
Casualties and losses | |||
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The 2022 Sri Lankan protests are a series of protests various non-partisan protesters (mainly the general public) and opposition political parties against the government of president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, accused of mismanaging the economy and producing an economic crisis with severe inflation, daily blackouts, a shortage of fuel and essential items. Protesters demanded that the government run by the Rajapaksa family immediately resign.[6][7] Most protesters were unaligned with any political party, and some expressed discontent with the political opposition.[8]
Protesters targeted members of the Rajapaksa family and government politicians. The government in turn used authoritarian methods such as imposing a state of emergency which allows the military to arrest civilians, imposing curfews, restricting social media such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, Viber and YouTube, assaulting protesters and journalists and arresting online activists.[9][10][11] The measures taken by the government resulted in further increasing the unpopularity of the government and the Sri Lankan diaspora began demonstrations against the suppression of basic human rights.[12][13] The social media block also backfired as the heavy VPNs use by Sri Lankans caused #GoHomeRajapaksas, #GoHomeGota to trend in countries such as the United States, Singapore and Germany and the block was lifted on the same day. Further, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka condemned the actions and summoned officials responsible for the block and abuse of protesters.[14][15]
On 3 April 2022, all 26 members of the Second Gotabaya Rajapaksa cabinet with the exception of Prime Minister Rajapaksa resigned en masse but critics noted that the resignation is not valid as they did not follow the constitutional protocol thus slammed it as a "sham" [16][17][18] and several were reinstated in different ministries the next day.[19]
Background
Since 2010, Sri Lanka has witnessed a sharp rise in foreign debt, reaching 88% of the country's GDP in 2019.[20][failed verification] The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic-induced global recession accelerated the crisis and by 2021, the foreign debt rose to 101% of the nation's GDP,[21] causing an economic crisis. The incumbent Government of Sri Lanka under president Gotabaya Rajapaksa made continuous cascading policy errors[citation needed] which resulted in a severe huge economic crisis for Sri Lanka. These included large tax cuts which affected government revenue and fiscal policies causing budget deficits to soar.[22] To cover government spending the Central Bank began printing money in record amounts, ignoring advice by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to stop printing money and instead hike interest rates and raise taxes while cutting spending, as well as another IMF warning that continued money printing would lead to an economic implosion.[23] In April 2021, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced that Sri Lanka would only allow organic farming, totally banning agrochemicals-based fertilisers. The drop in tea production as a result of the fertilizer ban alone resulted in economic losses of around $425 million and created a 20% drop in rice production within the first six months reversing previously achieved self-sufficiency in rice production and was forced to import rice at a cost of $450 million. [24]
With the brothers Basil Rajapaksa as finance minister and Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister, the sense of nepotism and mismanagement deepened among critics.[25] While members of the Rajapaksa family have been charged with corruption locally, authorities have failed to prove these chargers. In 2021 the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) released the Pandora Papers, which included Nirupama Rajapaksa who had used shell companies and trusts in offshore jurisdictions to secretly stash their wealth around the world. In 2022 as protests began growing in Sri Lanka Jaliya Chitran Wickramasuriya, cousin of the Rajapaksa brothers, pleaded guilty in US District Court for defrauding $332,027 from the Sri Lankan government during the purchase of a new embassy building in 2013.[26][27] Government supporters and allies also began to blame the economic crisis on Basil Rajapaksa who gained a reputation as "Mr. Ten Percent" due to his alleged commission from government contracts,[28][29] and despite being the finance minister did not attend parliament sessions during the economic crisis.[30] Udaya Gammanpila the leader of government-aligned Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, claimed that they have no intention of re-electing a Rajapaksa, describing it as the end of nepotism that has plagued Sri Lankan politics.[31]
Timeline
March
On 16 March 2022, tens of thousands of supporters of the opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led by Sajith Premadasa carried out protests in front of the President's office demanding that the President resign from his position.[32] On 30 March, when Namal Rajapaksa arrived for the opening ceremony of a sports ground in Bandarawela, angry locals blocked the road and demanded fuel, which resulted in Rajapaksa avoiding the area and the grounds being opened by the mayor instead.[33]
On Thursday, 31 March 2022, hundreds of protesters held a demonstration at Pangiriwatte Road, Mirihana, where President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence is situated.[34] Hundreds of social media leaders stormed the home of the President on Thursday night, demanding his resignation. The protest was initially spontaneous and a peaceful protest by citizens until the police attacked the protestors with tear gas and water cannons and the protestors set fire to two military buses and a police jeep, hurled stones at officers and blocked Colombo's main highway by burning tires. The curfew, which was imposed Thursday night, was lifted on Friday morning, but the presence of police and army personnel was increased in the city.[35][36][37][29][38] Security forces used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd.[6][39] Nearly 50 people, including some journalists, were injured and taken to hospital, and 45 people were arrested.[6] The protest was broadcast live by a private television channel, but was later stopped due to what journalists said was pressure from the government.[38]
A day later, over 300 lawyers appeared at the Mirihana Police to represent the arrested protesters free of charge.[40] Official sources said that Rajapaksa was not present in the house during the protest. A statement from the president's office said, "Thursday night's protests are being led by extremist forces who are inviting the Arab Spring to destabilize the country."[39] The opposition SJB accused the government of sending loyalists to infiltrate the protests to burn the vehicles and carry out acts of violence to sabotage them and noted that the videos of the protests do not show protesters being armed as claimed by the government.[41]
April
On 1 April 2022, Shashseendra Rajapaksa, nephew of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, had to avoid a ceremony in Wallawaya due to a protest waving black flags. Chamara Sampath Dassanayake attended in his place but had to change vehicles and flee using a side road due to protesters pelting him with eggs.[42][43]
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka requested political leaders to save the country from being a failed state while Gnanartha Pradeepaya, a Catholic weekly blamed the situation on corruption which forced the country to borrow to buy essentials. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith blamed the situation on the political leaders and "us citizens who have allowed ourselves to be used by vested political and cultural interests in choosing the persons to whom we have entrusted the country and its destiny over all these years,”. [44] The Cardinal also condemned the Government’s classifications of protestors as ‘extremists’ and ‘terrorists’ as being unempathetic to the pain and fear of the people. [45]
On 2 April 2022, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a nationwide public emergency.[46] However protests continued with private bus drivers in Anuradhapura[47], carpenters in Moratuwa and fishermen in Galle joining protests.[48] A 36-hour island-wide curfew until 6:00 am on 4 April was imposed at 6:00 pm on the same day. The move is aimed at avoiding possible new protests.[49][50] The sudden announcement of a curfew resulted in panic buying creating long lines outside supermarkets and pharmacies who began chanting anti-government slogans. Some who came for work from distant areas were unable to return to their homes forcing some to sleep on the streets.[51][52] Celebrities also joined in the condemnation of the government with Roshan Mahanama accusing "incompetent power-hungry rulers" of creating an economic depression.[53]
Thisara Anuruddha Bandara, the social media activist who was widely known for initiating the #GoHomeGota hashtag campaign, was arrested by the police on 2 April 2022 and was kept under police custody at Modara Police Criminal Investigation Unit before being produced before a court. He was deemed to have been arrested under section 120 of the Penal Code.[54][55] A riot also broke out in front of the residence of Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando.Angry protesters are throwing stones at Fernando's residence, demanding electricity. Moratuwa town comes under the main administrative province of Sri Lanka.[56]
On 3 April 2022, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) announced that service providers had blocked social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube due to a request from the Ministry of Defence.[57] Oshada Senanayake, the Chairman of the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka, tendered his resignation amidst the social media blackout, stating that he was standing by his ethos and principles.[58] The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) requested the TRC and service providers to immediately restore all social media platforms immediately as they are unable to inform consumers about impending power cuts as electricity has been declared an essential service.[59] The internet access was restored 15 hours after it was imposed.[60]
Multiple protests in violation of the curfew were reported. One protest by the SJB led by Sajith Premadasa, Sarath Fonseka and Patali Champika Ranawaka was held in Colombo where they were blocked by the police.[61] A protest by the students of University of Peradeniya in Kandy was forcefully dispersed using water cannons and tear gas.[62]
On April 3, numerous Rajapaksa cabinet minister submitted their resignation letters. The resigning ministers including Sports and Youth Minister and the son of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Namal Rajapaksa who previously criticized the blocking of social media access. The President will announce the new cabinet on Monday. Two ministers who were part of Rajapaksa brothers, Chamal Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa has also resigned.[63] However the opposition noted that under 47/2/a of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution the resignation must be handed over to the president but they have handed over it to PM Rajapaksa instead. Opposition also denied that they will join any interim government as it was not practical to join a government under President Rajapaksa without a parliamentary majority due to considerable economic reforms needed to be carried out.[18] Central Bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal also resigned as a result of growing anger.[64][65] However on 4 April Gotabaya Rajapaksa reshuffled the ministerial portfolios by swearing in Ali Sabry as Finance Minister, G. L. Peiris as the Foreign Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena as the Education Minister and Johnston Fernando as the Minister of Highways.[19] Protests continued in 4 April as including on the Tangalle - Kataragama Main Road close to the Carlton House in Tangalle, the residence of the Rajapaksa family.[66] President Rajapaksa invited the opposition to join the unity government he proposed to find the solution to end the crisis.[67]
The swearing in of the same ministers from the former cabinet caused protests to further intensify causing protesters to surround the houses of government MPs including the houses of Keheliya Rambukwella, Gamini Lokuge, Ramesh Pathirana, Kanchana Wijesekera, Roshan Ranasinghe, Nimal Lanza, and Janaka Bandara Tennakoon while Douglas Devananda's office in Jaffna was surrounded while he was till in the building. The police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters but some succeeded in storming Roshan Ranasinghe's residence and vandalize it.[68][69][70] Protesters also began to demand the arrest of Rajapaksas and recuperating stolen wealth. [71]
In an exclusive interview with Newsfirst through a phone call, former deputy governor of Central Bank Nandalal Weerasinghe revealed that he was given an offer by Gotabaya Rajapaksa to take up the post of Central Bank of Sri Lanka governor and Nandalal himself admitted that he accepted the position.[72][73] He is set to resume his duties as CBSL governor as of 7 April 2022.[74]
On 5 April 2022, Ali Sabry tendered his resignation as Minister of Finance, having served only a day in office.[75][76] In addition, he also intended to resign from his national list MP post.[77]
Overseas protest
In the United States, protests erupted including outside of the residence of Gotabaya Rakapaksa's son in Los Angeles during which protestors called him to call his father back to the US.[78] A protest was also held in front of Sri Lankan High Commission in London, England.[79] Protests were also held in Melbourne, Australia, at the Federation Square and in Mount Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand. In Australia, protests were also organized in other cities such as Perth, Brisbane, and Sydney.[80]
Reactions
Government
After the protest in front of the President's house, the government of Sri Lanka called the protesters "terrorist" and blamed "extremist group" for instigating the riot.[81][82] In the wake of the nationwide protest, the Rajapaksa government declared a 36-hour state of emergency that will last from 2 April 2022 until 4 April 2022 morning. The president's proclamation said the imposition of the state of emergency was in the interest of “public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community”.[83] Dozens of Sri Lankan police has been deployed to the main square[where?] in Colombo in order to prevent protesters from gathering. The Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence has also blocked access to several social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter as public criticism have grown against the ruling Rajapaksa family.[84][85] However, Sports and Youth Minister Namal Rajapaksa said that imposing internet block is "completely useless" as the availability of VPNs has been widespread.[86] The access was restored 15 hours later.
Opposition
The government's handling of the protest has been met with criticism and condemnation from several opposition politicians. Opposition MP for Tamil National Alliance M. A. Sumanthiran condemned the government's handling of protest and called President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to immediately rescind this gazette notification, Sumanthiran also urged fellow MPs to reject the state of emergency bill.[83] SJB MP Harsha de Silva said that the government has lost its legitimacy for the mishandling of debt crisis in the country.[87] Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa called the state of emergency as unconstitutional and condemned the government for violating the law.[84] Premasada has also called the neighboring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in Sri Lankan political and economic crisis.[88]
Departures to foreign states
Several reports of members and associates of the Rajapaksa family fleeing the country emerged during the protests. On 3 April it was reported that a group of nine people, including the wife Limini Rajapaksa and in-laws of Namal Rajapaksa, had fled the country.[89] MP Namal's father-in-law had been appointed director of the state-owned Airport and Aviation (Services) Sri Lanka Limited .[90] On 4 April Nissanka Senadhipathi, a close ally of the Rajapaksas and the chairman of the Avant-Garde PMC allegedly fled to Maldives with his family members aboard SriLankan Airlines flight UL-102.[91]
See also
References
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