The Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) is to hold a protest in Colombo today (7) based on several demands, including the conduct of the Local Government (LG) election as scheduled, the abolition of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA) and the Executive Presidency, the taxing of the rich and providing relief to the people, and the release of university student union leaders and members who have been arrested and remanded for what the IUSF claims to be are unjust reasons.
Speaking to the media yesterday (6), IUSF Convenor Wasantha Mudalige said that although the short-term objectives of the “aragalaya” (the people’s struggle) have been achieved with the resignations of then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, then-Prime Minister and incumbent Government MP Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Premier, and then-Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, there are long-term objectives including a “system change” in the system of governance which are yet to be achieved.
“Mainly, we have to achieve reforms in terms of the economy and democracy. It is when such reforms are needed that the Government led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe is continuously attempting to postpone the LG election. They have undermined the independent commissions including the Election Commission. We should rally the people against all these acts, and the protest to be held tomorrow (7) is one step towards it,” he added.
The main demands of the IUSF include the resignation of the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa Government, the holding of the LG election as scheduled, the abolition of the PTA and the Executive Presidency, the introduction of a new Constitution which represents the people’s opinion, the reduction of the cost of living and taxes, the provision of relief to the poor, and the immediate release of IUSF activists who have been arrested and remanded for various reasons, including Dilshan Harshana and Kelum Mudannayake.
The IUSF organised several protests and other forms of demonstrations during the “aragalaya” which demanded the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. During such a protest in Colombo in August 2022, Mudalige, Inter-University Bhikkhu Federation Convenor Ven. Galwewa Siridhamma Thera, and IUSF activist Hashan Jeewantha were arrested by the Police and subsequently placed in detention under the PTA. The IUSF has however continued with its protest movements even following the arrests of its activists, most of which were obstructed by the Police with tear gas and water cannon attacks in the recent past.