The public protest organised by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) against the Sri Lankan government was staged in Colombo yesterday (16).
A number of issues including the cost of living and the fertiliser crisis are the main matters for this protest. The Sri Lankan police was trying to block the protest because of government pressure. Many people who wanted to join the protest were retreated due to the Police but the protest was participated by a large crowd.
The Sri Lankan opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said Sri Lanka was on the verge of an economic collapse. Addressing party supporters who gathered in Colombo to protest against government policies.
‘The people are suffering, due to the bad administration, authoritarianism, and the arrogance of the government.” People from many parts of the country had gathered in Colombo to articulate their grievances.
For the first time in 51 years, the oil refinery inaugurated by the late Dudley Senanayake has been shut down because there is no crude oil. We have been through rough patches. We have had a long war with the LTTE but never have we run out of money to buy crude oil,” he said.