Like its international counterparts, the Rajapakse government declares “the economy has to function in the new normal” and people must “learn to live with virus.”
While the unions promote illusions in a cabinet sub-committee, the Rajapakse government has unleashed brutal police repression against protesting teachers.
The government’s removal of virtually all remaining limited restrictions has added fuel to the pandemic, which is now accelerating with the highly-infectious Delta variant.
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Sri Lankan president tries to cover up crisis in lengthy national address
The national address on June 25 by Sri Lankan President Gotabhaya Rajapakse was a desperate attempt to hide the political crisis of his government which is facing rising disaffection by workers and the poor over its attacks on social and democratic rights as well as its negligent response to COVID-19.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa [Credit: AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena]
Rajapakse’s 69-minute speech was pre-recorded near Ruwanwelisaya Dagoba, a sacred Buddhist site in Anuradhapura, the first ancient Sinhala kingdom. The choice of venue was to further reaffirm his Sinhala-Buddhist credentials and bolster his right-wing base among Sinhala extremists.