Politicos take cover in their official homes as the people take to the streets

As people are out in the streets protesting against the increasing cost of living and the shortages of essential items due to the Government’s mismanagement of the country’s economy, ministers, Government parliamentarians and ruling party supporters are in a difficult fix.

First, they have to check whether the routes they take have any lengthy queues near fuel stations or domestic gas cylinder distribution centres as they might attract violent reactions from the angry people suffering in the pre-monsoon heat at such locations. Second, their personal safety is at stake. Considering these two issues, many of them are forced to remain in their residences or official bungalows.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Parliamentarian Jayantha Samaraweera was turned back at Moratuwa when he was on his way to attend a ceremony in his electorate.

At least two incidents were reported this week where angry protesters pelted stones and eggs at the vehicles of ministers and government parliamentarians. No one was hurt.

On Friday, in Nuwara Eliya, the seasonal festival near Lake Gregory was scheduled to begin with the participation of Minister C.B. Rathnayake, State Minister Jeevan Thondaman and others but not a single prominent politician was there other than municipal council officials.

The event was disrupted by a protest organised by private bus operators and passengers who were stuck in the city due to a limited number of bus services. Police had to intervene and the event concluded ahead of schedule.

In Jaffna, things went further awry when a group of Government supporters organised a counter protest for the protest march organised by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Women’s Wing led by Hirunika Premachandra.

Agitated protesters were furious about the fringe group voicing slogans supportive of the Government and the President. One of them took off his slippers and started chasing a heckler from the scene.

Police personnel who were standing a few metres away quickly intervened and tried to remove those who came under attack. One Police officer stopped a passing tuk-tuk on the road and urged them to get in immediately. When the driver was still trying to fathom what was happening at the scene, the Police officer himself drove the tuk-tuk with the driver still catching his breath.