By F. F Mushfika

The unanimous uproar of Sri Lanka today is targeted towards the President demanding to immediately resign from his post for an interim government. The public are massively organizing protests to showcase their displeasure towards the contemporary government. The occupying of the Galle Face Green by the protestors is a significant landmark in the history of Sri Lanka. People have entirely lost their trust and confident on the president and openly slam him as an incompetent ruler. The constant brag of his brother Mahindha Rajapaksha – the ex-Prime minister, his victory over the horrendous 30 years’ war while addressing the nation, has even more instigated hate upon the Rajapaksha regime. People have become vigilant. The sense of manipulation has influenced the fighters to emerge against the government for a common cause. The demonstrators are emotionally associating themselves with the struggle with strong building of ties among the minorities which was at a split in the past. They together are chanting “GotaGoHome” as a pivotal part.

The most striking element of this protest is its creativity. The protestors displace their anger through several unique manners with art, style, drama, and humor which has attracted global attention, thereby urging the current government for an immediate action and measures. The demonstrators are committed in engaging in a peaceful protest throughout the country with the support of the law and order. Amidst any violation of their fundamental rights the BAR ASSOCIATION of lawyers come flocking up to rescue the alleged violators. Hence, the message to the president is sufficiently clear – to leave his position and go home.

President Gotabhaya Rajapaksha – assumed duty in 2019 as the 8^th President of Sri Lanka. He has a tremendous record of serving in the military and defeating the Tamil Tigers providing an end card to the long and destructive civil war. During his campaign as a candidate of the Presidential election he stood up on a pro-nationalistic platform providing that of an economic development and a safe society. The citizens of Sri Lanka being horrified by the Easter Attack prior to the election confided unto him with a percentage of 52.25 votes. The former government failing to secure the trust due to its inability to save the country from an attack that they could have evaded, paved way to the sole reason for their loss. Ironically the same government that rose into an immense power with a majoritarian vote is facing a relentless chase by the public with demands for the President to step down as it is the people’s mandate.

What has led down to this situation? How did the President lose his enormous support with a short span of time? This needs to be discussed in a broad and extended manner with a deliberate analysis of the crisis that is on-going in Sri Lanka currently.

Unfortunately, Gotabhaya Rajapaksha seemingly portray himself as a leader who has failed the nation. Upon coming into power, we witness a leader who is considerate of prioritizing his family over the state by giving rise into nepotism. Providing the highest positions to his fellow family members of Rajapakshas such as Mahindha, Basil, Chamal, Yoshitha, Nirmala and Namal – the President hitherto has laid down a regime of nepotism. Along with that, the Presidential pardon to Duminda Silva upon assuming the Executive Presidency – 20^th amendment, and several other murder convicts induced a sense of threat to the democratic reforms of the country. People were noticing the ignorance and started to draw threads unto political games. The series of non-ethical conduct of the President as of convicting Ranjan Ramanayake over a contempt of court and so on collided with the intention of the Presidency in a bad light.

Although these facts did not immediately escort the people to walk into the street, they do ring a bell. Further, the rising inflation together with money printing along with the depreciation of the local currency due to the shortage of the foreign reserve entrusted the government to supply the essentials in demand. The hiking prices and extending queues at filling stations outraged the commoners. At some point it necessitated them to get on to the street calling for the President to quit along with the abolishment of the 20^th amendment. They further urged the government to restore democracy that was sustained by the 19^th amendment. Despite their demonstrations the President stood unchanged and was reluctant to give up his position. It further provoked the public and there were mass gatherings in support of the people at Galle Face Green, all over the country. The unstoppable price hikes and the incompetent nature of the president being unable to resolve the immediate issues such as the shortages of food, LP gas, milk and fuel instigated the protestors for a system change.

In fact, the inability of the government to provide a relief to the grievances ensured that there was a serious corruption and mismanagement of funds. The demonstrators perceived this as a requirement for a mandatory system change. This they believed to be started from the Rajapakshas withdrawing from the political arena. The uproar for the President and his family to step down remains unchanged even today. There have been so many challenging issues and attempts were made to disperse the peaceful protestors into violence, yet they stayed on their grounds, intellectually handling the matters.

It is unrealistic for the President Gotabhaya to carry on his power up until the next election. People are moving towards anarchy and the President does have a responsibility to stop the country from falling into it. Today the people are demanding a systematic change by questioning the privileges of the politicians and strongly steering against a future with corruption. The fear of losing the country to bankruptcy and thereby losing means of survival, threatens the lives of the citizens. Therefore, people are not ready for any compromises other than that of the stepping down of the Presidency.

Further, the government’s decision to ban the chemical fertilizers and cutting down the taxes at the beginning are factors which have enormously reduced the revenue that has led to the current economic crisis. The government under the headmaster of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa even failed to have reached International Monetary Funding far before is a constant reminder to the people of his inability and egoistic nature. The 58-year-old Vish Govindasamy an oldest business entity recalled as the emergency of seeking the IMF assistance long back “fell on deaf ears” of the President. Had it have been done, today’s disaster in economy could have been spared to a greater extent.

This connects to the attention that the aforementioned are the causes that lead to the present tumultuous situation of economic downfall which is believed to get worse than getting better. The collaborative call for the Presidency to step down is a fundamental issue in the domain of the Sri Lankans today. It has been the outcome of long-lost hope that was built in an individual as an ultimate hero. President Gotabhaya Rajapaksha received his position by a majoritarian of votes and the same people are demanding for him to quit and let the government for a system change with an inclusion of intellectuals and young political minds with no greed for power. Therefore, it is very important for him to mandate with the decision of the public and accept their disapproval and dissatisfaction while paving way for a constructive change as well.