Lankans protest opposite Lankan Consulate in LA

Over 1,000 Sri Lankans and US citizens, of Sri Lankan origin, protested opposite the Sri Lankan Consulate in Los Angeles, on Saturday (09), demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the SLPP government over the economic woes experienced by the hapless public.

Since the violent protest opposite President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence, at Pangiriwatte Road, Mirihana, and a spate of countrywide protests, Sri Lankans living overseas launched demonstrations in various parts of the world.

US, based sources told The Island that among those who had participated at the Los Angeles protest were members of the Sri Lankan Patriots Organisation that spearheaded a victory march in the immediate aftermath of Sri Lanka’s triumph over separatist terrorism in May 2009.

Protesters, the majority wearing black, shouted slogans against the Rajapaksa family while demanding justice for the 2019 Easter Sunday victims, FBI probe on money laundering and freedom to former SJB lawmaker Ranjan Ramanayake.

Sri Lankans urged the US to investigate former Finance Minister US citizen Basil Rajapaksa for financial fraud, including money laundering. They demanded tangible measures to recover stolen money.

A Buddhist monk who addressed the gathering demanded that the Rajapaksas quit administration. The Ven Thera declared that the Rajapaksas wouldn’t be allowed to exploit the Buddhist clergy for their protection. They ended the protest by singing the national anthem. (SF)