Category: Featured Headlines

Archbishop of the Colombo Archdiocese Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith yesterday (9) condemned the attacks on the “GotaGoGama” and “MynaGoGama” protest sites, noting that it is shameful that such acts were carried out from Temple Trees, the official residence of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Rajapaksa resigned from the Premiership yesterday.

“Last morning, after a meeting held at the residence of Premier Rajapaksa – the Temple Trees, a mob of people walked into the area of the anti-Government protests and started assaulting the people and breaking down the structures with their thuggery. This is unacceptable,” said the Archbishop while addressing the media yesterday.

“That this happened from the residence of the Prime Minister is a shameful act. That a Prime Minister of a country can let goons out into the streets to destroy peace and harmony is unacceptable.”

On 9 May, supporters of Rajapaksa gathered at Temple Trees, where they engaged in chants, asking him not to resign. They were addressed by Rajapaksa, inside the Temple Trees. Following this, the crowd assaulted the protestors outside the Temple Trees, at “MynaGoGama”, where they were engaged in a days-long struggle, demanding his resignation.

The crowd then moved towards GotaGoGama, where they assaulted “Go Home Gota” protestors, setting fire to many structures near the Galle Face Green, belonging to the protestors. Government MP Johnston Fernando was at the Temple Trees, whilst video reports show Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Government MP Sanath Nishantha forming part of this pro-Government mob, while allegations have also been levelled at Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando for transporting busloads of people to be a part of the mob.

“They assaulted those at the Galle Face Green and injured a number of them,” said the Archbishop. Reports show that about 130 people were hospitalised.

“The most shameful act was that the Police were folding their hands and waiting, almost as if they were waiting for the thugs and goons to come and attack the peaceful protestors. All of us religious leaders, including the Chief Prelates of the three Sects wish to say that we do not accept this kind of behaviour,” added the Archbishop.

“We would like to ask the Government to not respond in this manner to peaceful protests and we would like to ask those engaged in resistance to not give up and not to engage in retaliatory violence of any sort, and to be peaceful and to protest with dignity.”

The curfew which was imposed on the entire country from 7.00 pm today (09) to 7.00 am tomorrow (10) in accordance with the provisions of Section 16 of the Public Security Ordinance, has been extended until 7.00 am on Wednesday (11), the Presidential Media Division announced.

It said that no person is allowed to be on any public road, railway, public park, public recreation ground or other public ground or the seashore except under the authority of a written permit granted by an authorised officer.

A tense situation has prevailed near Temple Trees as a group of supporters of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa have attacked the protesters outside the ‘MainaGoGama’.

The MynaGoGama protest site opposite Temple Trees was attacked by a group moments after Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa addressed the SLPP Local Government Members Forum and its members on Monday (9).

The tents opposite Temple Trees was dismantled by a mob. The MynaGoGama protest site was set up demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Supporters of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa have gathered opposite Temple Trees to urge him NOT to resign from the post of PM.

Hundreds of supporters of the Prime Minister have made their way to Temple Trees to press the PM NOT to resign.

At the same time, the MynaGoGama protest is also taking place opposite Temple Trees demanding Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to resign.

According to political sources, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to make a special statement today and is likely to resign from the post.

General Secretary of the SLFP and former Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara expressed doubts about the proposed statement to be made by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa today before his resignation as there was a move to stage a protest by a few former SLPP pradeshiya saba members before the Presidential Secretariat demanding the premier not to resign.

‘I have information that Prime Minister Rajapaksa had summoned a few selected number of former PS members to Temple Trees and told them to stage a protest. If this happens today, the modus operandi is to say that ‘How I can resign, (sic) when people ask me not to do so?’.

Commenting on the talks between the SLFP led 11 party alliance and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Jayasekara said the talks were successful and held in a positive atmosphere.

“Both parties agreed that the power of the executive President has to be curtailed through constitutional amendments and Parliamentary and Prime Minister’s power be further enhanced. President must be prevented from changing the composition of members of Parliament to strengthen his or ruling party’s power by unethical means,” Jayasekara noted.

Both parties also agreed to retain the power of the executive President to dissolve or suspend a Provincial Council if and when the particular council acts in detriment to the interests of the national security in violation of the Constitution. The best example to this is the warning by then Chief Minister Vardharaja Perumal of the North- Eastern Provincial Council in 1990 to make a unilateral declaration of independence of the North – East .

There was also a consensus that the electoral system has to be amended to meet these constitutional requirements, Jayasekara added.

He kept hopes that the discussion between the BASL and President Rajapaksa scheduled to be held last afternoon would be fruitful and the interim government would be a reality within this week.

However, the passing of the No Confidence Motion is not necessary if Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse resigns as promised today paving the smooth transition of power from the much detested SLPP government to an all-party interim government,” Minister Jayasekara stressed