Aragalaya continues with campaign to secure release of student leaders

More than 10 organizations are continuing their struggle in the “Aragalaya”, demanding the release of Wasantha Mudalige and Siridhamma thero who are currently in custody under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

At press conference on Tuesday (October 11) at Colombo Library premises, where the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) and many other organizations participated  they demanded the immediate release of the arrested Aragalaya members.

Last week  Hashan Jeewantha Gunathilake, who was in custody was released on bail after he was produced to the Tangalle Court, while Wasantha Mudalige and Galewewa Siridhamma thero, arrested with him remain in prison.

The Acting Convener of the Inter University Bhikshu Federation, Gunaratana thero, stated that the Government has put the country in a situation, where morning assemblies are cancelled since students cannot stay standing for five minutes.

“The demands of the Aragalaya have not been met yet. Let us get together and fight against Ranil -Rajapaksa regime ”, the thero added.

The media spokesman of the Federation of University Teachers Association, claimed that the Aragalaya is the greatest struggle in history for freedom from politicians, the people themselves elected.

“These politicians came to power by marketing the term ‘Sinhala Buddhist’. Instead, they must understand the voice of the citizens as a whole”, he said.

The Acting Convener of the IUSF, Terence Roderigo, states that the Aragalaya was capable of showing the politicians and the rich class of the power of the people, by removing former President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Commenting on the theme of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s rally on Saturday “Let us rise from Kalutara”, he stated that “They are trying to show they are a phoenix rising from the ashes, but we cannot see a relationship between Mahinda and a phoenix”.

 MP M. A. Sumanthiran, who also attended the conference, commented on the role of lawyers in the Aragalaya, “We will continue with this act of social responsibility in resisting the oppressive acts the Government takes”.

The conference was attended by many other organizations such as the Sri Lanka Teacher’s Union, the Union of Labourers Aragala Center, Ceylon Bank Employees Union and the Center of Free Trade Unions.