News
A public menace
View(s):For persons in the city of Colombo, street protests have become part and parcel of daily life. It appears that one group or the other is eternally protesting imagined or real grievances. Sadly many of these protests seemed designed to create maximum inconvenience to the public.
Story and pix by Ishanka Sunimal
Colombo’s already congested streets become an absolute hell during these protests with tens of thousands having to suffer the consequence of actions of a few paltry protesters. The number of man-hours lost to these thoughtless actions is incalculable.
As if this was not bad enough, the protests show a disturbing pattern of descending into violence, with some groups seemingly determined on provoking confrontations with the police by attempting to forcibly gain entry into ‘high security zones’, causing the guardians of the law to respond with tear gas, water canon and at times even baton charging protestors.
The confrontation between the police and protestors inevitably result in innocent bystanders being inconvenienced or hurt.
Schoolchildren, pregnant women and even tourists often fall victim to the antics of the rowdy behavior of protestors. Is confining protests to designated areas a solution? The idea was mooted earlier but not implemented due to concerns it affected freedom of expression.
But isn’t it time the rights of many who are inconvenienced by the the actions of a few are protected?
The look of frustration on this child’s face tells its own tale
A monk speaks to a group of protestors
Protestors show no respect for mothers-to-be
Blocked roads, unruly protestors and massed policemen/women do little to promote the country as a paradise