Armed troops parade in Colombo amid criticim over the occasion’s price at a time of dire financial disaster.
Sri Lankans have protested within the capital Colombo in opposition to the federal government’s resolution to organise a pompous army parade to mark 75 years of independence from British colonial rule at a time when the nation is experiencing a dire economic crisis.
The celebration on Saturday was condemned by many Buddhists and Christian clergies who introduced a boycott of the occasion in Colombo, whereas activists and others expressed anger at what they regard as a waste of cash.
Regardless of the criticism, armed troops paraded alongside the primary esplanade within the metropolis, showcasing army tools, as navy ships sailed within the sea and helicopters and plane flew over the town. Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948.
“Given inflation, given increasing costs, given the way the local currency devalued … ordinary Sri Lankans are struggling to make ends meet. And at a time like this when you have a celebration that people have heard is costing so many thousands of dollars, they are not happy,” mentioned Al Jazeera’s Minelle Fernandez.
“The president himself a few months ago did go on record about austerity measures, on the need to tighten the collective belt of the country to ensure that costs are brought down, he warned of the difficult road ahead … but at the same time, you find him saying that they have to celebrate Independence Day because people will otherwise think that the country is unable to even do that,” Fernandez added, reporting from Colombo.
Catholic priest Cyril Gamini referred to as this 12 months’s ceremony a “crime and waste”.
“We ask the government what independence they are going to proudly celebrate by spending a sum of 200 million rupees ($548,000),” mentioned Gamini, including the Catholic Church doesn’t condone spending public cash on the celebration and that no priest would attend the ceremony.
Water cannon fired on protesters
Distinguished Buddhist monk Omalpe Sobitha mentioned there was no motive to have a good time and described the ceremony as simply an exhibition of weapons made in different nations.
A bunch of activists started a silent protest on Friday within the capital, condemning the federal government’s independence celebrations and failure to ease the financial burden. A video posted on social media confirmed the group being surrounded by police who later tried to disperse the gang by utilizing a water cannon.
Al Jazeera was not in a position to independently confirm the video.
Sri Lanka is successfully bankrupt and has suspended compensation of practically $7bn in overseas debt due this 12 months pending the result of talks with the Worldwide Financial Fund.
The nation’s whole overseas debt exceeds $51bn, of which $28bn needs to be repaid by 2027. Unsustainable debt and a extreme stability of cost disaster, on high of lingering difficulties from the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to a extreme scarcity of necessities akin to gas, medication and meals.
On Friday the United Nations youngsters’s company reported that almost a 3rd of Sri Lankans required humanitarian help because of the downturn.
The army parade on Saturday occurred on the identical boulevard that final 12 months was the location of a protest encampment erected by Sri Lankans outraged over the island’s financial calamity and mismanagement by its leaders.
The protest movement peaked in July when an enormous crowd stormed the house of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and chased him into short-term exile, from the place he issued his resignation.
Wickremesinghe ordered safety forces to dismantle the camp, hours after he was sworn into workplace and has since set about repairing Sri Lanka’s ruined funds.
His authorities has elevated taxes and is negotiating with worldwide collectors together with India and China to clear the way in which for an urgently wanted Worldwide Financial Fund bailout.
To handle the nation’s bills, the federal government has additionally introduced a 6 p.c reduce in funds allotted to each ministry this 12 months. Additionally, the army, which had swelled to greater than 200,000 members amid a protracted civil battle, shall be downsized by practically half by 2030.
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