Democracy in Sri Lanka: Protest against Opposition Leader condemned in Parliament

A protest was staged today at the Parliament roundabout against Sri Lanka's Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Hundreds of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) supporters led by local government members of the party were seen displaying placards and shouting slogans against the Opposition Leader.

The protesters blocked the road, obstructing the passage of the Opposition Leader’s vehicle convoy. Police and police commandos stepped in to control the crowd.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara condemned the incident as a violation of democracy. He made this comment responding to an issue of parliamentary privileges raised by the Opposition Leader. Mr. Wickremesinghe stated that his parliamentary privileges were violated by the protesters obstructing his vehicle, raising tensions in the House as government MPs started hooting and shouting. The Speaker then called the incident a “black mark on democracy”. He also said the incident would be submitted to the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges.

Today’s protests come on the heels of Mr. Wickremesinghe’s recent strong criticisms of the Rajapaksa government and its large Cabinet. Yesterday, the Opposition Leader singled out the President’s brother, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, calling him a “traitor”.