People stamp their power at Independence Square

Thousands thronged in style yesterday (04) against the government demanding that all Rajapaksa family members in the regime should resign from their posts immediately including President Gotabaya Rajapaksa taking responsibility for the economic crisis the country is crippling with. 

People from all walks of life turned up at the Independent Square calling for urgent change in the country’s leadership, alleging the government failed them miserably despite securing massive electoral mandates at previous elections. 

The vast majority of the demonstrators clad in black, reflecting yesterday’s – Black Monday theme – chanting slogans against Rajapaksa family members. The demonstration was staged by two groups chanting slogans such as Gota(baya), go home, and Gota “baya” (scared Gotabaya), Dan Sappada? (all good, now?) etc. 
 
The crowd grew in substantial strength when a group of protesters marching from Neluka Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre joined the demonstration.   
 
The Independence Square protest was among the dozens of anti-government protests that were staged in many parts of the country yesterday against shortage of essential items, skyrocketing cost of living and increasing trend of inflation which pushed more families into poverty in recent months. (Pix by: Pranavesh Sivakumar)