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‘GotaGoGama’ celebrates Vesak

16 May 2022

By Buddhika Samaraweera Vesak Poya Day celebrations were organised at the “GotaGoGama” protest site at the Galle Face Green, where the protestors are demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, yesterday (15).  The Buddhist clergy had gathered near the main entrance to the Presidential Secretariat at the Galle Face Green, where a sermon was preached. An almsgiving ceremony was also held at the site. In addition, Vesak lanterns and Buddhist flags were displayed on both sides of the road near the Galle Face Green. The protesting youth were seen making Vesak lanterns over the past several days. In addition to the Buddhist clergy, priests, and nuns representing the Catholic clergy had also arrived at the protest site yesterday. Earlier, various celebrations had been organised at the “GotaGoGama” protest site in view of the Catholic community’s Easter Sunday and the Ramadan celebrations that fell in April and early May, respectively.  Having been organised on social media platforms, thousands of youths gathered at Galle Face Green on 9 April to demand the resignation of the President. More than 50,000 people participated in the protest that day. Since then, large numbers of people have been protesting day and night in front of the Presidential Secretariat, the demarcated Demonstration Site, and in front of the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo.  Various parties have worked together to establish sanitary facilities in the area for the convenience of the protesters, and temporary library and hospital facilities have also been set up at the site. The protest, which is now known as the “GotaGoGama”, is attended by a large number of people daily and food and water are distributed to them around the area. Especially, not only the people living around Colombo, but also people from different parts of the country are now participating in it. Also, the protest which started with the participation of youths is now being attended by people of all ages. Furthermore, branches of the “GotaGoGama” have been set up in other parts of the country such as Kandy, Galle, Matara, and Negombo. In addition to protesting against the President, the Premier and the Government, they also conduct public awareness programmes on various topics such as law, politics, and social reforms.  


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