COLOMBO (UCAN): Amid ongoing protests in Sri Lanka over economic mismanagement, rising fuel costs and a foreign exchange crisis, a new government was appointed on April 18 by the president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who said that he made mistakes and pledged to correct them, Associated Press reported.
However Malcom Cardinal Ranjith of Colombo, said at a press conference, “There is no use in changing and appointing new ministers, just misguiding the people. Changing pillows for a headache will not solve the problem.”
On April 20, the BBC reported that protesters in the town of Rambukkana had been shot by police, killing one and injuring 11 others.
Thousands took to the streets in cities across Sri Lanka on April 9 calling for the government to resign as the country faces its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948.
Protesters, including priests and nuns marched with posters, banners and flags calling on Rajapaksa and his government to quit as the crisis deepens, but he has refused to step down.
Cardinal Ranjith, together with interfaith leaders joined protesters in Negombo and said the country needs a fresh start with major changes.
“Hand over the country to someone who can govern it and people should have the courage to take action to eradicate the corrupt system,” the cardinal said.
“Some of the Rajapaksa family members who stole money from the country have already fled Sri Lanka,” he said.
Protesters gathered in parish churches with their priests before marching along the main roads leading to Negombo chanting slogans.
“Now our foreign minister and our finance minister have to go and ask for a loan from the International Monetary Fund,” Cardinal Ranjith said, adding, “Yesterday I read in the newspaper that a beggar in India was giving some of the money he had collected to Sri Lanka. It means that we have fallen beyond the status of beggars.”
The cardinal said, “We urge all citizens of the country to work together to change the system. Please come together and tell these politicians to go.”
Salman Maulavi, a Muslim cleric, said the government has been cursed by God.
“The people of the country today line up in queues from morning till evening to buy fuel and other essentials,” Salman told a gathering in Negombo. “We urge the government to listen to the voices of the people who say no to all 225 lawmakers.”
The weeks-long protests against the government near the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo have continued despite heavy rains. Crowds gathered from 9.00am on April 9 chanting slogans and displaying placards. Protesters said they would not give up the fight until Rajapaksa stepped down.
Many bishops, priests and nuns have joined the protests. Bishop Cletus Chandrasiri Perera of Ratnapura, Bishop Winston S. Fernando of Badulla and Bishop Norbert Andradhi of Anuradhapura joined the people on the streets on April 9.
“Make the decisions that the people of the country demand now,” said Bishop Andradhi.
Sri Lankans in Europe have also organised protests in support as their homeland faces a worsening economic crisis that has seen steep inflation, shortages of goods and daily power cuts.
