Protestors invade Galle Fort
Steven Smith bats while the protestors do their bit on the background
Public protesters stormed the Galle Fort ramparts defying an arbitrary police ban to demand the resignation of Sri Lanka’s President and Prime Minister against the backdrop of a debilitating economic crisis. Police and army patrols could not prevent the massive crowd from storming in.
Hundreds of people with anti-Government posters and banners climbed up the fortress while others shouted slogans in front of the Galle International Cricket stadium joining the island-wide protest which was launched yesterday morning.
They occupied the front, overlooking the ground, which was hosting the second and final Test between Sri Lanka and Australia before moving out to rejoin those gathered in front the public bus stand.
People had been aiming to commute to join the main demonstration in Colombo only to be foiled by a lack of public transportation. As a result, they assembled near the Galle Railway Station opposite the cricket stadium and marched around the ground and towards the famous Fort.
Though the players could clearly see the protesters–and hear their angry shouts against the rising cost of living, lack of essentials like fuel, gas and medicine–the players were not disturbed. Sri Lanka and Australia are currently into the second day of the second and final Test.
“There were some incidents that took place during the first match and so a decision was reached to bar people from entering the rampart overlooking the ground,” a senior police officer from Galle said.
Security forces forcibly evicted protestors from the area during the first Test and the move has been challenged in courts.
Following the incident an army spokesman told local media that protesters had been removed in order to ensure batters were not distracted. Australia, who were batting that day, however contradicted it saying that they had no issue of people protesting at the ramparts.
A massive protest to oust the President and the Prime Minister is currently in full swing country-wide.