They Rallied Demanding Justice!

Pictures and Text - By Pavithra Jovan De Mello

On Friday June 15th, two people were killed while several others had been injured when an unidentified group of men had opened fire at a JVP rally in Katuwana, Hambanthota.
Outraged JVP members held a protest campaign demanding justice for the killings.  The protest began from Technical junction in Colombo, where they marched to the Fort Railway station. The protest was scheduled to start at 3.30, however, rain delayed the march for a few minutes.
Hundreds of JVP supporters, lead by General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva and few other party leaders, marched through the streets of Pettah and gathered in front on the Fort railway station. Even though the main suspect, Geegana-gamage Amarasiri a.k.a. Julampitiye Amare, had surrendered to the Police earlier that day, not for this particular murder, but for other offences including murder, attempted murder and robberies,  the protest went as planned. Anger seemed to fill the air, as demonstrators threw their fists in the air, screaming and chanting verses that projected rage againts the murderers and the government. Even women and children were seeing taking part. Riot police were on duty 100 meters away from the protest, asked to standby if the protest turned violent. The gathering was then addressed by Mr. Tilvin Silva.
He reportedly said that their struggle would not end until the present government, imperialism and the social system that protects them are wiped out. His speech ended, with loud cheers, before everyone dispersed.