Any journalist in #SriLanka will know how this 'story' came about.
A news editor monitoring the 'brouhaha' (their word, not mine) online would have told a journalist on roster to call the person most likely to be offended by the incident...
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May 2, 2023 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
Here's a summary of key statements made at the #MayDay2023 rallies in #SriLanka yesterday
👇🏼
UNP:
- We must work together
- See, how we're including the youth (nod to aragalaya)
- Ranil will be prez for two terms like JR (Wajira A)
- Ranil got us out of bankruptcy in no time (Ruwan W)
May 11, 2022 • 23 tweets • 5 min read
🧵Jumping in a little late here, but to suggest that GGG is a covert JVP, NPP, IUSF, SYU operation is very misleading. They are certainly doing much of the heavy lifting (more power to them) but having been there from day one, I can say that there has been every possible....1/
...representation imaginable WITH the exception of anyone known or perceived to have ulterior motives or agendas. This is why the politicians were and are, largely, persona non grata there. 2/
May 11, 2022 • 11 tweets • 2 min read
🧵 For months now the Rajapaksa govt. ignored peaceful protests and the country’s resounding request for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down. 1/
Months ago, they refused to listen when they were warned against making decisions that would impact the economy and result in food scarcity. 2/
May 10, 2022 • 10 tweets • 3 min read
What’s become abundantly clear to me this crisis is the international media’s great irrelevance in today’s media landscape. 1/
There was a time international media attention was necessary to amplify but the internet and use of social media has made this greatly redundant 2/
May 9, 2022 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
My silent thought for many weeks now has been, ‘when will this end?’ Unfortunately, even after all that transpired today, I am left with the same question: When will this end? There is STILL not a hum from @GotabayaR - how prideful can he be to still hang onto power? 1/
It is the prideful stubbornness that brought things to a head today. And his unwillingness to let go - even at this point - only means MORE instability, and more violence in the country. 2/
May 9, 2022 • 19 tweets • 7 min read
Video from when I arrived at GGG earlier today. By this time pro-govt supporters had already attacked both #MainaGoGama and GGG. Tear gas had already been fired.
#GotaGoHome protestors were attempting to put fire out. People were upset, angry but still staying in control. They were exhorting armed forces to intervene.
May 9, 2022 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
I want to reiterate: this carnage and violence you see is the fault of the Rajapaksas. For months now protestors did everything in their power to keep things peaceful. Their demands were ignored. 1/
They were pushed to the brink, and today, mobs were unleashed on them and peaceful protest sites burned down. An entire nation was incited to violence as a result of this. We DIDN’T want to see this happening. But it is now. 2/
May 9, 2022 • 5 tweets • 3 min read
Conflict in the vicinity of Temple Trees, where pro-Mahinda Rajapaksa supporters arrived this AM to ask the Prime Minister stay.
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#SriLanka#lka
Anti-government protestors have been camped outside there for a couple of weeks now, so coming there to protest 'in support' of the Prime Minister is a deliberate move to instigate trouble.
President @GotabayaR, addressing nation, says vaccines only way forward, and details his efforts in obtaining vaccines for the country. #SriLanka#lka
Details other efforts to manage pandemic: interprovincial travel ban, aggressive vaccine drive, vaccines for factory workers, prohibition of public functions etc. #SriLanka#lka
Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana says lifting curfew only a temp. measure to enable those in absolute need of essential items time to go out and restock: "Don't assume temporary lifting of curfew is complete removal."
#COVID19#lka
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Says if there is no urgent need for an item, not to step out of the house. Repeats that only one person needs to go, if there is the need for it, and that person should return as soon as possible and ensure s/he cleans self with soap as directed.
