Give me just one generation of youth and I will transform the whole world - Lenin
Our country’s youth have proved Lenin’s popular saying by liberating our nation from its corrupt government. Throughout history revolutions have occurred in the world demanding changes in culture, economy and socio-political institutions.
The GoHomeGota Revolution will be among the notable revolutions such as the Russian Revolution, the French Revolution and the American Revolution.
Background
The corrupt government dragged the entire country into an abyss. The youth had to relinquish their hopes for a better future. People lost their livelihoods as a result of the economic crisis. A few people died in kilometre-long fuel queues. Pregnant mothers were forced to deliver babies at home due to the unavailability of public transport.
Kids died due to the shortage of medicines. Eventually, the whole nation became a tear-jerker nation. As noted by economists, the key contributing factors to the crisis are mismanagement of foreign debt, fraud, corruption and nepotism.
Parliament which stinks of fraud and corruption worsened our lives. The Pandora and Panama papers revealed that several top politicians have anonymous offshore accounts.
Therefore, questions arise as to whether funds have been embezzled to the US. Needless to say that more than 70% of thecountry’s budget was under the Rajapaksa Family until the 3rd of April 2022. Moreover, when Basil Rajapaksa worked for the Ministry of Mahaweli Development, he was called Mr. Ten Percent for demanding a ten percent commission on every single project.
The reasons for our economic crisis are obvious now. Our country which defaulted on debt payment for the first time on 12 April 2022 is still going through the worst economic crisis.
Sri Lanka which was known as the ‘ Granary of the East’ is among the top five countries with high inflation rate. The regime can never wash their hands off fraud and corruption. With the goal of eradicating the present regime, Sri Lankans took to the streets, holding placards and chanting slogans ‘ GoHomeGota,’ ‘Gota a Mad Man.’
Worldwide protests
Behind every revolution there is a bloody history. Those who shed blood and sweat for the motherland will be remembered forever.
Since March 2022 Sri Lankans including artistes and writers have been engaged in a peaceful protest, calling for the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa and demanding economic and political reforms. Both ‘GotaGoGama’ and ‘MainaGoGama’ were established in front of the Presidential Secretariat.
The peaceful protest which came under the limelight was admired by many countries. Unfortunately, the 9th of May was a gory day for all Sri Lankans. The Government unleashed violence on the peaceful protesters at GotaGoGama and MainaGoGama. Their henchmen set upon both GotaGoGama and MainaGoGama and attacked them brutally. Those involved in the protest got a severe beating and many of them were hospitalized.
Later, all the religious leaders condemned the act of violence. However, the bloodthirsty rulers failed to silence the protesters. Sri Lankans from every corner continued the protests until the former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stepped down from his post.
Eventually, he resigned. At that time, who would be in the saddle was unknown to many. Most politicians did not take up the challenge to resolve the crisis. Therefore, Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed as the Prime Minister by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, considering his international recognition and negotiating skills. However, it was not the solution to the crisis because the new Cabinet formed by Ranil Wickremesinghe could not find solutions to the crisis within a month.
The fuel shortage put a spoke in the wheels of education. The government had to grant a day off on Fridays due to the acute fuel shortage. The ongoing protests against the government culminated with a massive protest at GotaGoGama on July 9, 2022.
Sri Lankans from every corner started pouring into Colombo in trains, lorries, three wheelers and personal vehicles, chanting slogans ‘Go Home Gota’. Protesters who marched towards the President’s House and the Presidential Secretariat despite the tear gas attacks and water cannon attacks have already occupied these buildings. (Sadly, those who visit these buildings can be seen destroying them.)
Flees country
As a result of the massive protests, Gotabaya Rajapaksa had to flee the country on a military jet. Not only in Sri Lanka but also in many foreign countries Sri Lankans organized protests against the regime.
Thousands of Sri Lankans living in the US including students had organized protests on July 09, 2022. They called for the resignation of Gotabaya and insisted the government form an interim Government, demanding a system change. Protests and motor rallies had been organized in main cities in the US.
Significantly, the protests were followed by delivering letters to US senators and state representatives, requesting them to call upon the US Congress, Department of Justice, Homeland Security, Attorney General, US Customs and Border Protection, IRS and relevant agencies to conduct immediate investigations on the questionable and potentially illegal financial activities of the Rajapaksa family.
Objectives
Sri Lankans living in the US organized protests to achieve these goals:
01. To support the efforts made by Sri Lankans who are fighting for a system change, demanding accountability from politicians and to solve the scarcity of essential goods and services.
02. To spread awareness and gain international attention on the current crisis.
03. To discuss and encourage the ongoing fundraiser projects initiated by Sri Lankan Americans to provide medical aid to SL. True that Sri Lanka is for Sri Lankans. Indeed, now we have a ray of hope for a better Sri Lanka.
