Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the National People’s Power party says it will not be long before citizens surround the city of Colombo. At a press conference held at the party headquarters, yesterday Dissanayake said the failure of the government to solve the problems faced by the people due to its bankruptcy has now led to government-sanctioned brutal attacks on protests.

“The Socialist Youth Union (SYU) aligned with our party the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) held a protest on 24 September. It was a peaceful protest carried out in a manner that ensured no damage was caused to any public property. But the Police obstructed the protest and brutally attacked the protestors. They arrested 84 and seven have now been hospitalized. Ranil Wickramasinghe is acting as a dictator in total violation of the freedom given by the constitution to hold protests and demonstrations to call for solutions for the people’s problems” he said.

Dissanayake questioned if the people have no right to protest at a time the country’s people including children and youth are suffering due to the consequences of the destruction caused by the wrong economic policies and destructive political culture in this country. “Does Ranil Wickremesinghe think the people will remain quiet in the face of oppression? He is a leader with no mandate. However, he is now unleashing repression on the country’s people despite being one of the main accused who led the country down this destructive path” he said.

The NPP leader noted that while protests are ongoing the President has now been forced to take shelter in a small self-declared high-security zone. “As protests become larger he will only have to hide further inside these zones as the area belonging to the people are much vast. Wickremesinghe cannot stop the people’s struggle. Therefore he and his stooges must stop all efforts to thwart protests through repression.” he said.

Dissanayake said a broad social movement is now being created. “The government will not be able to stop that movement through these insignificant attacks and threats. If the government does not stop its attacks it will not be long before scores of citizens surround the city of Colombo. Wickremesinghe will have to hide within barracks.” he noted.

The NPP leader called on all protestors and others concerned about the country to join a common platform. “We ask everyone to join a broad movement to rise against this destructive and repressive regime as well as its destructive economic policies,” he said claiming the NPP together with the people will create this movement.

Pointing out recent incidents where the former President and Prime Minister had to flee in the face of the people’s opposition, Dissanayake said this is proof enough that the power of the people is above all else in the country. “An empty shell of a man such as Wickremesinghe who has no mandate cannot stop the people’s struggle,” he said.