Thousands Protest Against Government In Sri Lanka

COLOMBO -Thousands ofprotesters from opposition parties,human rights groups, tradeunions and media groupsmarched on Monday in SriLanka’s capital in a rare show ofdissent against the government.They held separate marches inColombo, shouting sloganswhich accused authorities ofcorruption and mismanagement,and later came togetherfor joint rally.Tissa Attanayake, an oppositionlawmaker, said law and orderhas broken down in the countryand the government haspoliticized judicial institutions.The demonstrators alsoprotested attacks on journalistswho have been critical of thegovernment, holding bannersthat read “Stop SuppressingMedia.”Government spokesmanKeheliya Rambukwella rejectedthe accusations, saying, “This isa democratic country andeveryone has the right todemonstrate and protest.”He said investigations ofattacks on journalists were continuing.President Mahinda Rajapaksahas used his party’s overwhelmingmajority in Parliament andgained through the popularityof winning a civil war againstethnic Tamil rebels to expandhis power.He abolished a two-term presidentiallimit, scrapped independentcommissions and tookover their power to appoint topjudges and police.His party also voted last year tooust the country’s first femalechief justice, and Rajapaksaappointed his own aide to thatposition.Sunil Jayasekara, convener ofthe Free Media Movement, saidhis group joined the protest tohighlight high-profile attackson media institutions and journaliststhat have occurred inJanuary in recent years.