• by Saman Indrajith -island.lk

Opposition political parties, trade unions and civil organisations are planning to hold a protest in Colombo on 09 July and continue their agitation until President Gotabaya Rajapaksa steps down.

SJB General Secretary MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara said they were having talks with other parties. “The representatives of Galle Face Aragalaya have met us and we pledged our solidarity with them. It is the demand of all the people. Our party has solicited the support of many civil and religious organisations in this protest,” Madduma Bandara told The Island.

TNA Jaffna District MP MA Sumanthiran told The Island that his party had assured the Aragalaya representatives of its support. “We have not changed our position and we join others in asking for the President’s resignation,” Sumanthiran said.

The representatives of the Galle Face Aragalaya are to meet several political party leaders from today to Wednesday to discuss the final arrangements for July 9 protest, party sources said.

JVP Central Committee Member and former Kalutara District MP Dr Nalinda Jayatissa said that they too demanded the resignation of President Rajapaksa. “In the meantime, we are participating in protests in all major towns by the people. The Galle Face Aragalaya has been there since April 9. We have to step up our campaign to oust the failed government,” Dr Jayatissa said. “On 09 May Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned, on 09 June Basil Rajapaksa resigned. We hope there would be happy news on 09 July as well,” he said.

Mahinda Jasinghe, the Spokesman for the Trade Union Coordinating Committee, comprising over 2,000 unions covering many sectors including health, postal, transport and education, said that their leaders and representatives of the Joint People’ Movement would meet at 4 pm via zoom to make arrangements for the protest that would surround Colombo demanding President to step down.