Lanka opposition launches 5-day protest march against govt

Sri Lanka's opposition led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa launched a five-day protest march today to highlight the government's "repression" and "poor" economic management.
Rajapaksa said the opposition protest march was to highlight the government's repression and poor economic management due to which people are facing hardships. He also criticised the proposed Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with India.
He said that unemployment is one of the issues faced by the public and the government has failed to address this.
The police had obtained court orders to prevent the protest rally.
The march was to begin in the central district of Kandy town but had to be shifted to Peradeniya following the court order. The march will end in Colomboon August1 with a public rally.

"No government before this had tried to stop this kind of democratic action. This government tried to stop this," Rajapaksa said.

He said the current unity government is doing this out of fear from the Joint Opposition (JO) led protest march.
Rajapaksa said the JO respected the court order by moving the venue.
"This group is trying to block investigations against them for their corrupt action, Minister of Highways Lakshman Kiriella said.
"They lost two national elections last year. Now trying to topple the government without giving the government the chance to work," Kiriella said.