Despite many obstacles, the pro-reforms group of Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) held their sathyagraha (protest) today at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo to demand the party leader Ranil Wickremasinghe to step down and hand over the leadership to deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya.
However a massive group of protesters gathered at the Viharamahadevi Park demanded the immediate resignation of the UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe. Sajith Premadasa, Dayasiri Jayasekera, Rosie Senanayake and Sujeewa Senasinghe along with a number of parliamentarians have attended the meeting.
The co-deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya is expected to join the meeting following the Working Committee meeting at Sirikotha.
The protest was planned to be held outside the party headquarters Sirikotha where the Working Committee meeting of the party was taking place but a last-minute court order forced the pro-reformists group led by deputy leader Sajith Premadasa to shift the venue to Viharamahadevi Park.
The Gangodawila Magistrates Court issued an enjoining order preventing any protests, illegal gatherings or processions in front of the UNP headquarters today (August 17). Further the police have obtained an order to prevent any interruptions to the UNP members attending the Working Committee meeting scheduled to be held this evening at the headquarters.
The police meanwhile, closed the main road leading to Sirikotha saying the road closure was due to construction. The police advised the public to use alternative roads when traveling to Kotte as road construction work being carried out on Bangalahandiya, Beddagana and Pitakotte.
Premadasa stated that he will respect the court decision preventing any demonstrations outside the UNP headquarters and will shift the planned demonstration to the Viharamahadevi Park.
Sources at the meeting said a bag containing wasps was found at the site and MP Dayasiri Jayasekera has stated that it was planted among the gathering allegedly by Gemunu Wijeratne, Chairman, Private Bus Owners Association.
The organizers accused the party leader Wickremasinghe of making an underhand deal with the government to scuttle the protest.
"I've not said this before but I am saying this now, that the Leadership of the UNP and the government have a deal going on," Premadasa has said.
The reformists say it has been proven that from the past several elections that the present government has no challenge from the opposition under Wickremasinghe's leadership and removing Wickremasinghe from the leadership is the first step to remove the present government from power.
The group proposes that UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe remain as the Opposition Leader while Jayasuriya be appointed as the party leader.
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