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Catholic youth join Galle Face protest on Easter

17 Apr 2022

By Buddhika Samaraweera The youth representing all youth associations under the Archdiocese of Colombo yesterday (17), which was Easter Sunday, joined the protest at Galle Face Green, demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, and the current Government. They had gathered at St. Lucia Church in Kotahena at 3.30 p.m. yesterday. The Catholic Church stated that the said group of youth was then blessed by Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, after which they joined the protest at the Galle Face Green. Nearly 1,000 people are still engaged in a public protest, staged against the President, the Premier, and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)-led Government, at the Galle Face Green premises, with the demonstration marking its tenth consecutive day today (18). On 9 April, more than 50,000 people from all parts of the country joined the protest march held at the Galle Face Green. Meanwhile, claiming that the appointment of a new Cabinet of Ministers is not an acceptable solution to the prevailing crisis situation, the Catholic Church recently emphasised that President Rajapaksa, listening to the public opinion, should resign, thereby giving the people the opportunity to appoint a different leader and a new Government. Speaking to The Morning at the time, Colombo Archdiocese Social Communications Director Rev. Jude Chrishantha Fernando said: “What the people have been saying is that the current President and the Government should resign. Therefore, the resignation of the Cabinet will not resolve this crisis. If the people say that the President should resign, they must then be given the opportunity to elect a new leader and Government.” Following serious opposition from the people towards the current Government over the issues such as shortage of gas, milk powder, and fuel which was reflected through islandwide protests over the past few months, the Cabinet of Ministers resigned from their portfolios early this month. Thereafter, four ministers were appointed by President Rajapaksa to maintain the country's stability, while the rest of the Cabinet is yet to be appointed.


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