Rare picture of Galle Face democratic protest 1956 against Sinhala Only Act under the leadership of SJV.
The Sri Lankan political leadership didn’t listen to the democratic cry of Tamil people but organized thugs to attack the peaceful protesters. The ambitious Banda told ‘let them experience the taste of violence’ before leaving the non-violent protesters behind. This is considered the first sign of the minority oppression by the national governments of Sri Lanka and this move ignited Tamils to justify the demand for separate state. Ever since, Sri Lanka lost its soul by adopting ethnically dividing politics as well as economy. Sri Lanka made one religion prominent and this has been used for political benefit at the expense of others. People never understood the agony of the alliance of one religion and politics in a multi cultural society. At last, we have come to this state. It’s not just a failure of politics but also the politicized religion. Are we ready to change all the toxicity of our politics or just a regime change?
