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Joint Opposition march and rally on Tuesday
View(s):All major Opposition political parties and trade unions will come together at a mass protest march and rally against the Government on Tuesday.
The main opposition United National Party (UNP), trade unions led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Sarath Fonseka’s Democratic Party (DP) and political parties in Vipakshaya Virodhaya will participate in a protest against state oppression, social degradation and corruption, and to push for the abolition of the Executive Presidential system.
The protest is organised by the Professional and Civil Society Collective, an umbrella organisation of civil society organisations, religious associations and trade unions. The rally will take place at Hyde Park in Colombo starting at 3 pm. The demonstration is aimed at battling the evils of casino and drug culture, and the ongoing suppression of media and dissidents under the UPFA Government, on a common platform of opposition forces.
Three separate marches will start from Lipton’s Circus, Gamini Hall on Darley Road and Hotel Nippon in Kompanna Veediya, to converge at Hyde Park for the rally. Opposition parties are aiming to attract a large crowd in a show of force directed against the policies and tactics of the present administration.
Apart from the key opposition parties, the Democratic People’s Front, Nava Sama Samaja Party, Mawubima Janatha Party, Ruhunu Janatha Party, Nawa Sihala Urumaya, Eksath Janatha Peramuna, National United Front and Our National Front will also take part in Tuesday’s rally.
The religious and civil society organisations that will participate in the march and rally, include the Eksath Jathika Bhikku Peramuna, the Free Media Movement, the Alliance of Disappeared Persons, Lawyers Collective and other groups representing sectors such as Health, Education, Fisheries and Agriculture.