SJB says people will be left with no choice but to protest 

…threatens to launch large scale anti-Govt protests in January

The SJB is planning to launch street protests in January against the government. Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s office last week the party’s Deputy National Organiser MP S. M. Marikkar said the first month in 2023 would be crucial to the Sri Lankans.

“The people’s earnings will dwindle due to Ranil Wickremesinghe’s blood-sucking tax policy while parents are already struggling to purchase items necessary for the new school year. Meanwhile, the Minister of Power is attempting to further burden the people by increasing electricity tariffs and threatening to impose 10-hour power cuts,” he said.

“The government will aggravate the people’s economic woes. Parents will not be able to buy school items for their children. Those having two meals now will have barely enough to sustain themselves. The underprivileged will be disadvantaged due to the increase in electricity tariffs as a higher percentage will be charged to them.

If the President and his ministers intend to act in this manner, we will bring the people onto the streets in protest,” he said. The MP said that the Government declared an additional holiday on Monday as an attempt to close down the Government printers, preventing the Election Commission from issuing a Gazette calling for election nominations.

“Elections must be announced within the next two weeks. But we are hearing that there is an attempt to call for elections but not hold them, claiming the country is under an economic disaster situation,” he said.  Marikkar accused the Government of taking away the rights of the people including the right to life, speech and expression. “They have destroyed the democracy in the country, its economy and freedom. Now they are trying to destroy the people’s right to vote,” he noted. “The people will be left with no choice but to take to the streets. The SJB will lead these protests,” he said.

SJB national list MP Tissa Attanayake said that the party was now in full preparation mode for the upcoming elections for the local government bodies.He said the Government was attempting various tactics to delay polls while Ministers were claiming there is no need for an election at this juncture. He also pointed out that the rival United National Party and its members are also claiming the Government does not have the necessary funds to hold a vote.

“This is because they are in fear. A Government must be able to face the mandate of the people fearlessly. But the SJB is ready to face an election at any given moment,” Attanayake said.He said that the Election Commission should release a gazette announcing the date for nominations as well as other necessary instructions.