Sri Lanka, known to the world, for its Ceylon tea, wildlife, beaches, cricket in Galle, Muttiah Muralitharan's wizardry, Sanath Jayasuriya's timing; today, stands in an adverse situation.
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Sri Lanka, known to the world, for its Ceylon tea, wildlife, beaches, cricket in Galle, Muttiah Muralitharan’s wizardry, Sanath Jayasuriya’s timing; today, stands in an adverse situation.
The beautiful island nation is grappling with its worst economic crisis due to its foreign exchange crunch, with lack of resources, and the government failing to make up for it. Sri Lanka depends on its tourism industry to support at least 10 per cent of its GDP but the pandemic has disallowed the natural flow of income generated through it.
The situation has led to prices of essential commodities surging while there is scarcity of electricity, food, fuel and medicine across the country. Protesters have surrounded the house of President Gotabya Rajapaksa in large numbers with cricketers who sweated it out for the nation on the 24-yard either joining forces or raising their voice at the face of it.
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Sri Lanka legends Jayasuriya and Marvan Atappatu, who once shared the national team dressing room, have now taken to the streets to protest against the government.
The former Sri Lanka Test captain was seen holding a banner, which said, “Save Sri Lanka for our next generation,” with the hashtags ‘Go Home Gota’ and ‘Corrupted Politics’ on it while Atapattu was seen protesting with his wife in Colombo.
“Sri Lankans are going through one of the toughest times imaginable. It is heartbreaking to see the despair of people and families as they struggle to make it through the day; and each day for them gets harder. The people are raising their voices and asking for what is needed: a solution,” Kumar Sangakkara, a part of 2011 World Cup final squad and now in India serving Rajasthan Royals as their mentor, wrote on Instagram.
“While some are reacting in resentment and anger to that voice, others are trying to take undue advantage of it. The right choice is to listen to the people, put aside destructive personal and political agendas and act in the best interests of Sri Lanka. The people are not an enemy. Sri Lanka is its people. Time is fast running out, the people and their future must be protected and provided for,” he added.
Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene urged the politicians to own up their mistake and protect the people of the country.
“True leaders own up to mistakes. There is massive urgency here to protect the people of our country united in their suffering. These problems are man-made and can be fixed by the right, qualified people. Certain people controlling the economy of this country have lost the people’s confidence and must stand down. We then need a good team to give the country confidence and belief. There is no time to waste. It is time to be humble, not make excuses and to do the right thing. #PeoplePower,” he tweeted.
Sri Lanka batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who is currently in India to serve Punjab Kings, raised his voice and believes that his nation deserves better.
“Even though I am many miles away, I can still feel the anguish of my fellow Sri Lankans, as they struggle to make it through each day.
“Now, they have found even their most fundamental rights suppressed, in an effort to quell their voices. But when 22 million voices rise as one, it cannot be ignored. The people of Sri Lanka deserve to be heard.
“The people of Sri Lanka deserve to live without the fear that they may not be able to provide for their families. The people of Sri Lanka deserve better.”
