Voluntary or coaxed, they came out against UNHRC resolution
Thousands came out on to the streets to take part in protests organised by pro-government groups including trade unions this week against the proposed resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva (UNHRC).
The biggest protest took place on Monday opposite the Colombo Fort Railway station in Colombo, where Cabinet ministers, members of Parliament, trade unions and office workers took part, despite the rain that day.
The slogans varied from those against the United States, which had decided to back the resolution, to those against the main opposi- tion parties - the UNP and JVP. State vehicles were used to distribute the placards and banners the protestors were given to display during the three hour long demonstration.
The protestors included those who voluntarily turned up as well as some who were compelled to mark their presence as the events were organized by their respective trade unions or by the heads of departments.
"I had to come for the protest as I may face problems in my office if I did not ," Deepani Chandrika, an employee of a State agency told the Sunday Times.
But, there were others who turned up to show solidarity with the Government and express their opposition to events in Geneva as they believed that it was not the right time to hamper Sri Lanka's progress.
"We have a duty to protect the government which has been recovering so well after a 30year -old war. The situation has been very peaceful since then. This demonstration attended by thousands is an indication that people are not scared to turn up in numbers at a public place," Nilantha Edirisinha, an employee of the Ports Authority said.
Among the slogans were “UNP betraying the country”, “Defeat the international NGO conspiracy”. “US: Do not interfere in Sri Lanka’s internal matters” and “Condemn LTTE-US link.”
Similar protests were held in more than 150 locations throughout the country including the Northern Province.
In Hikkaduwa foreigners joined the protest campaign, though it was not immediately clear whether they were volunteer participants.
Later in the week in a rare instance District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries in various parts of the country led their office workers to the streets to protest during office hours.
The protest campaigns continued throughout the week with the Muslim community joining in after Friday prayers. At the Devatagaha Mosque in Colombo a campaign to collect signatures was launched on Thursday for a petition calling for the withdrawal of the proposed resolution.