Sri Lanka’s Opposition party JVP to hold three-day public march to protest against government

The march will start from Beruwala in Kalutara District of western province on April 17 at 9.00 am and reach Colombo on April 19.

Sri Lanka’s Opposition party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) will hold a massive public march for three days next week to support the ongoing protest against the Rajapaksa government, as it accused the government of "stubbornly" trying to stay in power by using various tactics without listening to the people’s demands.

JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva at a press conference on Wednesday said that the "largest public march in the country’s history" will be held from April 17 to 19 to take "this struggle to victory", the Colombo Page news portal reported.

The march will start from Beruwala in Kalutara District of western province on April 17 at 9.00 am and reach Colombo on April 19.

“We are ready to give a new impetus to the struggle and turn it into a people’s power that will end victoriously,” Mr. Silva said.

“Artists, lawyers and experts from all walks of life have joined the people’s struggle and are urging this government to go home. The government is stubbornly trying to stay in power by using various tactics without listening to the people’s demands,” he said as protestors camped outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office for a sixth day on Thursday, demanding his resignation over the worst economic crisis in memory.

He said the government hopes that this struggle will slowly extinguish but they should not underestimate the people’s struggle.

The party invited all who wish to contribute sincerely, regardless of party affiliation. "We need to create a people’s power that will turn this into a struggle that the government will not be able to ignore the demands of the people. We have to create a people’s power that will drive out the corrupt government, and create a people’s government that punishes the corrupt…We urge the people to join hands with the measures and make it a success,” Mr. Silva said.