Over 40 protests have been held in Colombo within a span of 15 days according to Police sources. Since February 1 around 44 protests have been held by various trade unions, government employees, university students and other individuals making a series of demands
This includes a fast unto death by a group of workers from the Department of Archaeology demanding to be reinstated. A majority of these protests have taken place in front of the Presidential Secretariat. However, government did not deploy riot police or tear gas canisters to disperse the protestors allowing them to voice their demands.
A vacant plot of land adjacent to the Presidential Secretariat was assigned as the designated ‘Agitation Site’ on February 5. However, protestors have refused to carry out demonstrations on the site and gone on to obstruct the traffic on Galle Road to the displeasure of the public. According to police sources, the series of protests have also taken a toll on the officers who are being continuously assigned for duty.