Sri Lanka’s cricket stars go into bat for protesters
(AFP / Jewel SAMAD)
Sri Lanka’s World Cup-winning cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga and fellow ex-skipper Sanath Jayasuriya have joined street protests demanding the president step down over the country’s economic crisis.
Cricket is avidly followed in the Indian Ocean island nation and the pair called on other former players to support attempts to oust President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The island nation is in the grip of its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948, with severe shortages of essential goods and regular blackouts causing widespread misery.
“Cricket is driven by spectators,” Ranatunga said outside Rajapaksa’s office in Colombo on Friday, surrounded by demonstrators who have been protesting daily for the president’s removal since last week.
“Our fans are on the streets today because they no longer can bear the hardships. We must be with our fans when they need us most. Sports stars must physically join the protests.”
Hours later, his fellow former captain Sanath Jayasuriya, known as “Master Blaster”, climbed the barricades in front of Rajapaksa’s colonial-era office and pledged solidarity.
“Your message is loud and clear,” he told the tens of thousands of protesters. “I hope the authorities will listen and ensure a brighter future for all of us.”
Crowds have been chanting “Gota go home, go home Gota.”
The pair are the first former captains to join the street protests in person, but other stars have previously voiced their support.
Former captain Mahela Jayawardena has strongly backed the demonstrations on social media and urged Rajapaksa to go while ex-captain Kumar Sangakkara has issued more guarded statements.
Former Test player and International Cricket Council match referee, Roshan Mahanama, who has supported the anti-Rajapaksa campaign from its inception, compared the country’s plight to Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe.
“When I used to go to Zimbabwe many years ago, I saw the economic hardships people suffered there,” Mahanama told AFP.
“My driver had to stand in a queue for hours to get diesel. I thought this will never happen in my country. But today we are in the same boat.”
– Fuel rationing –
Police tightened security around Rajapaksa’s office on Saturday as demonstrations demanding his resignation entered a second week.
More than a dozen trucks were seen parked near the building at the Galle Face Promenade, which is being protected by commandos and anti-riot police.
Official sources said authorities feared protest numbers could swell next week, when more marches are scheduled.
“We can expect more people to pour in. The current strength (of police) may not be sufficient,” one official told AFP, asking not to be named.
“So far, the crowd is peaceful, but we can’t take a chance.”
Sri Lanka imposed fuel rationing on Friday in the latest effect of the crisis.
The government has urged citizens abroad to donate foreign exchange to help pay for desperately needed essentials.
It has announced a default on its entire external debt, and will open negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to seek a bailout.
(AFP)
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Senior ONLANKA Bloggers, Roxie de Abrew, Punyakanthie Kulasekera and Kumari-K (Feminine Activist) have set up a tent in Gota-go-gama for the past 72 hours.
We have some innovative posters outside out tent, one showing 18 rotten members of the Royal family hugging a crocodile in a well and another, where Pissu Sira and Pissu Wikka, are holding hands and hugging in a kakkoosiya.
Two leading sporting personalities visited our tent yesterday.
The atmosphere is electric and effort will not cease till ends are achieved.
Pity, Indra Akke (Batch64!!) and Ranjith are with Pervy Boris in cooler climes. You are welcome to our tent.
WE THANK ONLANKA’S EDITORIAL TEAM FOR THEIR LIBERAL APPROACH IN MODERATING OUR BLOGS.
THANK YOU ONLANKA EDITORS; YOU ARE WITH US IN THIS ARAGALAYA.
Hi Roxie,
Remember to take some of your nuclear waste and spread in the Gall Face. That is more than enough to tell about your level of intelligence, delusion as well as your self-appointed senior blogger post! I see your future as well as that of the the mob in the Gall Face down a couple of years time in the event somehow crazy idiots being able to topple the government. So I won’t come anywhere near! Very likely after few more years the mob will be back with the same behaviour to change the next government and so on. Once the genie is out, it will be difficult to control and you won’t have even the land left to sell to live on subsidised food and fuel since nothing much left now. Eat some democracy with ARAGALAYA on the side and have ‘non-align’ for dessert. No foreign investment will be coming to a country where the mob changes the government and nobody will lend either. Bye! Enjoy the day!
Hi Indra Akke,
Thanks for the psycho analysis; you do have mini bits of knowledge remaining from the Batch64 days.
It’s a bit of long journey from Pervy Boris’ backyard to GoGotaGama. That’s OK.
Indra Akke, whatever money the Pissu-sena’s Govt get from IMF / Foreign Investors / Expat Remittances, will diverted using SriLankan planes to Kampala.
Dhu***jali and Sh***nthi have joined hands in exporting stolen gold under the guise of atomic wastes, in Containers guarded by STF.
We are still in Gotagogama and our tent is attracting many visitors who provide us with food and water.
Go and eat your nuclear waste cow! Can you try to sell it somewhere to get some foreign currency at least?