Yesterday (02) the protest march held jointly by the opposition political parties, trade unions and mass organizations was interrupted by the Police in the Pettah area and the Police stopped the protest by not allowing the march to go in front of the Fort railway station as it had been organized.
There, the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa had decided to leave the place after being unable to reach a solution after discussing with the police officers about not allowing the peaceful march.
At that time, there was some opposition to Premadasa from a small group of people present at that place and media organizations backing the current regime published the news about it. Supporters of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), the United National Party (UNP) and even the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) shared the story and videos with great enthusiasm on Social Media.
The Leader of the Opposition in a country is the leader of the entire Opposition representing political mainstream and is the alternate head of state of any democratic establishment. The Police had also sent a letter to the Opposition Leader saying that the protest would not be allowed, and he had participated in the protest despite it.
Also, when the Police prevented the protest, it was the right step taken by Sajith Premadasa as the country’s Leader of the Opposition to move out from the place peacefully without putting on a show.
The country’s Opposition Leader is not there to fight with the Police on streets. If he had done such a thing, it would have set a very wrong precedent for the people. Accordingly, the Leader of the Opposition did a very wise thing by not going to such a situation and leaving the place to save the protesters from making any unwise action and to avoid the anger of the people.
Saving a country from an economic crisis is not a task that can be done by acting like some cape crusader in a Hollywood movie. Accordingly, Premadasa’s response yesterday is the most suitable for his position and personal image.
