“WE NEVER OBSTRUCTED PROTEST MARCHES”
Pada Yathra protest campaign begins Police block forward march just before it reaches Mawanella
The five-day Pada Yathra protest march organized by the Joint Opposition kicked off from the Peradeniya town yesterday, against what the protestors called heavy burdens inflicted on the people by the government.
The procession came to an abrupt end at Ganethenna, just before reaching Mawanella city since there was a court order preventing the procession from marching through the Mawanella city limits. At that point former President Rajapaksa had addressed the crowds and decided to resume the march tomorrow, starting from a point bypassing the Mawanella city limits.
While claiming that there had been no obstructions to protest marches in the past like this, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who joined the march said yesterday the government was doing so as it had realized that it was heading on the wrong path.
He said such obstructions on the opposition had not occurred during the tenure of former president Chandrika Bandaranaike or himself.
Mr. Rajapaksa expressed these views after observing religious observances at the Gatambe Temple before joining the pada yathra.
He said some police officials had taken the law into their hands and were acting to fulfil the needs of politicians.
“Today the police are going to the court for everything. They are helpless as they have to obey the orders of politicians,” he said.
When asked whether they would be able to proceed with the protest march because of court orders, Mr. Rajapaksa said they would finish it while respecting the court orders.
He alleged the government was carrying out an anti people rule and alleged that the people and the opposition politicians were being suppressed and humiliated.
“The government is taking revenge from everyone who is opposed to it. The government should change its method of ruling and think about the country in the first place,” he said.
SLFP MPS Dilum Amunugama, Dullas Alahapperuma, Bandula Gunawardane, Kumara Welgama and MPS Dinesh Gunawardane, Wimal Weerawansa together with artistes participated at the protest march which concluded at Ganethenna near the Mawanella town as it was ordered not to enter the city limits. The march is scheduled to begin today (29) from Mawanella.