Sri Lankan cricketing legends join anti-government voices, slam Rajapaksas over violence

Security personnel near Mahinda Rajapaksa`s official residence on May 10. Pic/ AFP

Amid unprecedented violence and growing protests against former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, icons of Sri Lankan cricket slammed the top leaders of the country. Cricketers such as Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena and former captain Roshan Mahanama took to Twitter and criticised the Rajapaksas following the clashes between the supporters of the ruling party and anti-government protesters in Colombo.

"The only violence was perpetrated by your ‘supporters' - goons and thugs who came to your office first before going on to assault the peaceful protestors," tweeted Sangakkara, the former top-order batsman and wicket-keeper, while commenting on a tweet by Mahinda Rajapaksa. The former PM had said, "I urge our general public to exercise restraint and remember that violence only begets violence. The economic crisis we're in needs an economic solution which this administration is committed to resolving."

Mahinda Rajapaksa, resigned as Sri Lankan Prime Minister on May 9 amid unprecedented economic turmoil and violence, hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters, prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy army troops in the capital. After the news of his resignation, another Sri Lankan cricketer, Mahila Jayawardena, wrote a series of tweets, in one of which he mentioned, 'One down and one to GO!!!! #GoHomeGota #peoplepower.'

Commenting on a video shared by a news channel, in which a group of people can be seen brutally assaulting a man, the former Sri Lankan captain and current coach of IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, Jayawardena wrote, "These thugs were assembled at the prime minister's official residence this morning and walked in numbers to assault innocent peaceful anti-government protesters. How can this happen? police and others just watching this."

Legendary all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya too tweeted, "I never thought that this type of thuggery would be unleashed on innocent protesters at Galle Face in broad day and outside temple trees. The police must remember they are here to protect the public of this country, not corrupt politicians. This is the end of the Rajapaksas."

Former captain Roshan Mahanama tweeted about him joining the protest. "Staying at home while watching the country go into chaos was not an option. As soon as possible, I walked to Galle Face from home last afternoon to stand in solidarity with the fellow protestors and to show my support towards the fight against the corrupt, power hungry leaders," he wrote.

Thousands of demonstrators have hit the streets across Sri Lanka since April 9 seeking the ouster of the Rajapaksas, as the government ran out of money for vital imports, even as prices of essential commodities skyrocketed and shortages in fuel, medicines and electricity supply fuelled nationwide crisis.

On May 9, the ancestral home of the Rajapaksa family in Hambantota was set on fire by a group of anti-government protesters and the death toll on May 10 rose to eight, including an MP, even as hundreds were injured a result of the violence.

(With Agency Inputs)