9 July Protests: Not Just in Colombo

Protestors participate in an anti-government demonstration outside the President's office in Colombo on July 9, 2022. | (Photo by AFP)

While Sri Lankans from across the island gathered in Colombo on Saturday (9) to protest against the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, many who could not make it Colombo protested in their hometowns. While people in massive numbers flocked to Fort, a large number of protestors was also seen in protests across the island on Saturday. Protests were held in many major cities across Sri Lanka including Kandy, Jaffna, Galle, Kattankudy.  

“Initially started off small, but then more people joined.” – Protester in Kandy 
Speaking to Daily Mirror, Bilaal Marikar, one of the protesters in Kandy mentioned that the protest initially started off with people protesting at the top of their lanes and near the junctions. However, as the numbers started growing, the protesters set off from Katugastota towards Kandy town. “Around 1500 or more people participated throughout the whole day. There were old and young- men and women, children, teenagers and members of the clergy.  Nothing else mattered except a united voice for the President to go home,” shared Marikar. He added that the economic crisis had badly affected small businesses and shopkeepers in Kandy as they were compelled to close down their businesses and stores due to the current crisis. 

Marikar also expressed concerns over the President stating he’d resign on the 13th. “The President promised to resign on the 13th, but why so late? Why not now? Why not present a letter that says his resignation is effective on the 13th, if that’s when he actually wants to leave? They’re cooking something up, stalling, buying time for some sinister plan. The people have to keep applying pressure. This is the only thing that will make them waver from their ruthless power-hungry ways. The people have to show that they are not divided, that they are one. Also, there has to be good media coverage like yesterday which allows no way for anyone to twist the narrative,” said Marikar. 

“This was the biggest protest I’ve seen in Bandarawela after the Uma Oya protests,”-Piyumi
Piyumi Wattuhewa, a protestor at the Bandarawela protest, shared that many in Bandarawela could not afford to travel to Colombo for the protests due to the fuel shortage, but wanted to protest in solidarity. Therefore, a protest was held near the Bandarawela Central Bus Stand. “People flocked in from Bandarawela and surrounding areas- Ellathota, Bindunuwewa, Welimada, Kebillawela, Diyathalawa, to join in on the ‘main protest’.  This was the biggest protest I’ve seen in Bandarawela after the Uma Oya protests that happened a couple of years back,” she said. 
Wattuhewa along with other protestors in Bandarawela were also watching the protest scenes unfolding in Colombo on Saturday. “We watched history unfolding on live TV. The people’s protest truly lived up to its name. We claimed what was rightfully ours and what was made by our money. This was an exercise of our sovereignty with the people of Sri Lanka reminding those who were in power and most importantly, ourselves, that Sri Lanka belongs to the people and not to the people we elect. That the people we elect are merely custodians of the power that we hold. That we, as the people, can take that power back whenever we don’t see those we’ve elected act in our best interests.” 

However, Wattuhewa noted that the mere resignation of the President was not enough. “People should see that we have a right to hold our elected representatives accountable, and that we will continue to exercise this right with anyone new who comes into power. I hope we learn to unlearn the toxic, racist, majoritarian, nepotistic political culture that has enabled sub-par people to come into power for the last 70 years. I hope people will finally be able to see the structures and ways that systemically discriminate and disenfranchise us all.” said Wattuhewa. 

“Want to see a change in our political system,”- Protester in Galle
Held opposite the Galle International Cricket Stadium, over 100 000 protestors in Galle voiced out their dissent against the President, Prime Minister and the government. “Cost of living keeps increasing. Daily wage earners have no means to sell their products. Those engaged in the tourism industry here are facing many difficulties due to lack of tourists and many have closed down their hotels and shops. People are suffering due to the rising cost of living and loss of livelihoods,” informed Razka Bary, a protestor in Galle. She mentioned that as a Sri Lankan citizen, she hoped to see a change in the political system where honest, educated people with strong integrity are given space to represent the people. 

“Rulers have to respect the opinions of the people,”- Protesters in Matara
Like in other parts of the country, small business owners had to close down their businesses in Matara as well. Bakeries and salons could not function, patients in hospitals faced critical situations due to the lack of medication and due to the health workers not being able to report on time due to the fuel crisis, those who were working in other places couldn’t make it to their hometown due to the fuel crisis and limited public transport- these are some of the issues that have affected the people of Matara. So, the people took to the streets on Saturday to voice their dissent against those in power. Held in front of the Sanath Jayasooriya Stadium, the protest in Matara also saw massive crowds. “Rulers have to respect the opinions of the people. After the President resigns, we should ensure that we don’t allow another like him in power again,” shared Thamalu Gajanayake, a protestor in Matara. 

“There’s more to be done,”- Protester in Jaffna
While protests in the North and East are mostly met with intimidation, the cycle protest in Jaffna that started off from the University of Jaffna towards the Central Bus Stand on Saturday was not met with intimidation. “I think the military and the state get intimidated when there are protests in North around issues that directly target them like demilitarization, Buddhisization, justice for those disappeared. But since the entire country was protesting against the President, we didn’t face any intimidation by the security forces when we conducted our protest,” opined Mahendran Thiruvarangan, an academic at the University of Jaffna.  He shared that while the resignation of the President and Prime Minister were welcomed, he is sceptical about it until it happens. “However, there is more to be done. Immediate relief should be given on the economic front. As an academic, I can see how students are suffering. Less students are willing to spend more time in the university doing 4 year degree programmes. They all prefer to finish university fast, so they can support their families. Students are unable to travel due to the fuel crisis.

In the university, labs are running out of chemicals, we don’t have papers to conduct exams and no money to repair the photocopy machine. Even school children face similar issues. Government has to prioritize issues faced by various sectors- education, fisheries, agriculture etc, and provide a solution,” he shared. He also stated that there has to be a system change politically such as abolishing executive presidency, repealing laws like the PTA, passing constitutional amendments as demanded by the people and also resolving issues such as demands for regional autonomy. 

“We have to think of a more inclusive, secular state which does not give priority to a certain ethnicity or religion and also a systematic structure to address racism at all levels. The Rajapakses were able to rise because of racism, because people turned a blind eye to the racist agenda of the government and government used racism as a tool to deflect people’s attention. The role racism has played in today’s political and economic crisis has to be acknowledged. We should also think of issues such as gender, caste, sexuality and reform in all these areas and create a more inclusive, egalitarian society,” remarked Thiruvarangan.