Sri Lanka police arrest 19 anti-govt protestors on president’s birthday

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka police arrested 19 protestors gathered at the Gotagogama protest outside the presidential secretariat in Colombo on Monday June 20, on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s birthday.

A group of young people had gathered to “celebrate” Rajapaksa’s birthday by protesting with renewed vigour, blocking the entrance to the building.

Protestors who had been chanting in front of the main entrance moved to the side entrance Monday morning, and the situation quickly turned heated, EconomyNext witnessed.

Security in front of the secretariat was beefed up, with police, army and Special Task Force (STF) personnel wearing gas masks lining the perimeter while anti-government protested shouted slogans decrying the president and his security detail.

The multiple acts of police brutality allegedly occurring around the country has gained the ire of protestors, they told EconomyNext.

Some yelled through the bars of the wall around the Secretariat, saying that the security establishment was protecting thieves.

“We’re protesting for you too!” shouted a man through the bars, while the armed guards stood passive. (Colombo/Jun20/2022)