Protesters at Galle Face Green decides to vacate premises after 4 month long continuous protests

Update: A splinter group currently occupied at Galle Face Green refused to leave the premises this evening despite a collective decision taken by most of the protesting groups to vacate the area by today. 

The group protested when authorities tried to remove tents and toilet cabins that were setup for the use of protesters in recent months. The group said it was not aware of petitions that were filed by other protesters seeking directives from the Court of Appeal against police order to vacate premises have been withdrawn by petitions today as well. 

A collective decision has been taken by various groups of protesters at Galle Face, Colombo to vacate the premises after four months long continuous protests under the banner of ‘Gota Go Home’ demanding system change. 

Most of the temporary shelters and camping tents put up by the protesters to occupy the premises were removed by last night by the protesters. 

The temporary library located at Galle Face was shifted to a temple in Panadura in the early hours today and will continue to operate under the name 'Go Gotagama', according to protesters. 

Meanwhile, petitioners of four writ petitions filed before the Court of Appeal requesting to suspend the order by police for protesters to vacate the Galle Face protest site withdrawn their petitions today as well. 

Last week, the Attorney General (AG) gave an undertaking to the Court of Appeal that the Galle Face protesters will not be removed till today in the absence of proper legal provisions. 

The decision to vacate the premises came in the wake of the government’s targetted crackdown on protesters in recent weeks under the charges of damaging public properties, unlawful assembly and violating Court orders.

Over 150 individuals including trade unionist Joseph Stalin and prominent protesters were arrested by police last week and later granted bail. 

The ‘Go Gota Gama’ protest saw forcing former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign from Presidency after fleeing the country amidst mounting protests at Galle Face and other parts of the country on July 9. 

On July 22, a crackdown on the protesters was launched by security forces in the early hours where dozens were taken into custody by authorities and the temporary shelters and tents were removed.