Towards a united front against repression and dictatorship – The Island

Maria Montessori The analysis by Anura Gunasekere in The Island Newspaper, of 22nd July, 2022, is a reflection of a segment of the English-speaking middle class in Sri Lanka, confused and burdened by the state of flux, or the terrible uncertainty that engulfs the nation at large.Anura Gunasekere has remembered to grant some fatherly advice to these militant youth that revived the Aragalaya consistently as follows: “Also a word to unemployed graduates; the State provides you with an education, but is not obliged to provide you with sinecure employment of your choice.Anura Gunasekere probably did not realize that youth leaders, like Wasantha Mudalige and Lahiru Weerasekere, of the IUSF, or Duminda Nagamuwa of the Frontline Socialist Party, constantly battle against the prevailing system, demanding decisive changes in the system, even risking imprisonment.Anura Gunasekere, won’t even remember that these militant girls and boys have been fighting in recent times against militarization of vital institutions of the State, including, public administration, health, education, agriculture, etc.

I say this as Anura Gunasekere has taken the typically conservative position often repeated by the English-speaking elites, as follows: “The Aragalaya itself appears to have changed, in both complexion and composition.SAJITH EXPRESSED TRUE SOLIDARITY WITH THE ARAGALAYA IN A HOLISTIC SENSE Whilst Anura Gunasekere confers status to the Aragalaya from the time Gotagogama emerged, Sajith Premadasa was sensitive to different segments of the suffering people, long before Gotagogama emerged.