What is really Happening in Sri Lanka

Writing this article because the International news is not accurately covering what happened yesterday in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

For the past month, peaceful protests have been taking place at GotaGoGama calling for an end to corruption, racism and lies in politics. These protests were inspiring because they brought a country together, a country that had suffered decades of racist politics. We saw priests alongside monks preaching unity, justice and peace. The GotaGoGama protest site became a venue for musicians, artists, youth and changemakers to gather and build a better tomorrow. Chanting circles took place for us to collectively raise our vibrations higher and pray for peace and happiness for all beings.

During this month the Government tried different tactics to dissolve the protests by blocking the roads to the protest site, agreeing to negotiate with the protesters (which the protestors refused to do until their demands were met), and devaluing what was happening by calling it a Youth Beach Party.

As what seems like a last ditch effort, the Government brought in buses of pro-government supporters from the South of the country to incite them and break down the protest site on 9th May 2022. The supporters were offered money, food and alcohol to attack the sites. After a speech by the Prime Minister, they stormed onto the two protest sites, attacked unarmed men and women, some of whom were just bystanders attacked from behind. Even though there were several police in the area, and tear gas trucks in the vicinity the Police did nothing to stop the violence until the GGG structures were broken and protestors had been attacked. A curfew was announced soon after. This was very much a State Sponsored Attack on Peaceful Protestors.

I have not added the pictures and videos of the violence as it might be quite painful to see. After the attacks on the MainaGoGama and GotaGoGama protest sites, protestors started to burn buses which had come from down south and also started burning houses of pro-Government MP's.

Mahinda Rajapakse resigned as the violence escalated. Army was sent into the GotaGoGama site to clear the protestors on 9th evening, following which MR and family fled from Temple Trees.

Some people are unsure whether the violence (especially burning the houses of MP's) was actually from the GotaGoGama protestors or another political group trying to escalate matters. However the people became very violent, men were stripped, beaten and bleeding.

This article is an attempt to cover what happened to the best of my knowledge. I am devastated at the violence, the greed and hunger for power that has brought this country to its knees. I pray we can see an end to this.