This Thursday, June 9 marked the two months since the beginning of the protest movement calling for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapakse. For the occasion, a new demonstration took place to the seat of the presidency.
With special correspondent in Colombo, Sebastien Farcis
The procession invaded the esplanade in front of the station of Colombo, the capital of Sri Lankaand is about to rush towards the office of President Gotabaya Rajapakse with a cry: ” Gota, Go! (Gotabaya, leave!). Among the crowd marching through the streets of the capital, young and old alike are present. Coming from different social classes, the demonstrators are united in this struggle.
” We are angry. We must release these people who have ruined this country! In a company, if a CEO cannot pay his employees and they have to wait in line because of this, he is fired. ! says indignant Peter Almeida, an entrepreneur.
The movement is led by the youngest, hundreds of whom camp permanently in front of the presidency. They are widely supported even by the diaspora. ” I live in Canada with my children, but as soon as the movement started in mid-April, I came back to help them. I provided them with medicine and water, among other things. This crisis did not affect me, I could have stayed in Canada, but I am proud to fight for my country “, testifies RB Atapattu, a retired sexagenarian carrying a Sri Lankan flag in his hand.
With long daily power cuts, hours of waiting for petrol and soaring inflation, Sri Lanka continues to suffer from the worst economic crisis in its history, because of insurmountable debt and lack of foreign exchange. For his part, the president refuses to resign and the government has just asked for six billion euros in aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). A sum intended to keep Sri Lanka afloat for six months.