Thread by @Amaliniii

The Samathai drummers from Batticaloa joined in and lead the final stretch of the artists' protest yesterday.

Thread of some scenes and stories from both these powerful elements. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022

Tamil and Muslim women from Ampara, Batticaloa and Jaffna visited #Gotagogama yesterday. They raised the issues they were facing due to the #EconomicCrisisLK and issues of justice they'd been fighting for years. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota

They drummed, sang and took up space at the barricade. I might be wrong but I've never heard that much Tamil spoken at the barricade since this protest started. There were short translations so listeners could understand. It was A Moment. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota

'We need justice for what happened to their communities during the war. People wait for truth about disappeared relatives. The North and East must be demilitarised and that money put towards the people's benefit' - Vani #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022

Women from Jaffna shared a breakfast of kiribath with the families of the disappeared from the South. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022

We chatted over lunch and while escaping the sun. The women say they've been in a struggle against this regime for years. This time also they had to make the effort to come to the South to put their issues on the agenda - they're not sure how much protestors here raise them. #lka

The Artists Protest began around Independence Square. There were songs, performances and a beautiful dance by Thaji Dias to see the crowd off. All the while, the pro-Gota set were inside the Square. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022

There were dances, drums, puppet-creatures and art. And a immense crowd, as well. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022

The amazing artists who are at Green Path gave these boards and canvases of their work for people to carry as placards. Not sure if they collected them at the end? #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022

The protest passes #Mainayogama at Temple Trees. The pirith being blared on speakers from inside is drowned out and the Police outnumbered by the protestors for a few minutes. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022

Samathai is a feminist collective from Batticaloa. Their music includes a parai drum 'traditionally' not played by women. Watching them merge with & lead the march to its end was special (even for someone jaded by most coexistence kumbaya things). #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota

Two exorcisms - one, to break Gnanakka's power and two, to chase away the Rajapaksa demons. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022

P.S 1 - The women had to come to GGG to put their issues of economic justice AND post-war justice on the agenda even for a day. On the regular, the latter isn't spoken of. To show them solidarity, we can't demand they join until we raise those issues ourselves 1st. #lka #SriLanka

P.S 2 - Barely an hour after the women spoke on the barricade, folks there were back to cheering for war heroes. 'Unity' & 'reconciliation' take listening & dismantling structures that benefit some while hurting others. It's long work, so why not start at least now #lka #SriLanka