Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #Gotagogama
Most recents (23)
Exclusive: Some in int'l community trying to oust @RW_UNP, Minister Tiran Alles tells me. “Sections of the international community worked to topple President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, now they want to topple President Ranil Wickremesinghe, too.” (1)
#SrilankaPresident
#SriLankaCrisis
#SrilankaPresident
#SriLankaCrisis
(2) The UN, US, Canada, EU & UK expressed serious concern, the Norwegian Ambassador strongly condemned last week's pre-dawn military assault on the protesters occupying the presidential secretariat. Journalists & lawyers were among those assaulted. At least 5 ppl were abducted.
(3) Responding to wave of int'l condemnation, Min Alles says: “Some sections of the tinternaional community don't like President Ranil Wickremesinghe as he is a strong leader. Their intention is to weaken #SriLanka to control our country’s affairs.”
#SrilankaPresident
#SLnews
#SrilankaPresident
#SLnews
Scenes from Colombo's first ever Pride March yesterday, continuing the protest against the 'sTaBiLiTy' ie repression of the Gota-Ranil government. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #Pride
Beginning at the Liberty roundabout, where the LGBTQ+ community gathered for the first time a few years ago to protest after Sirisena's homophobic 'butterfly' remark during the constitutional crisis. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #Pride
This incredible flag colouring the whole stretch from Kollupitiya to #Gotagogama. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #Pride
It's with absolute pleasure (& exhaustion) that @deshan10 & I share our book "#KaputuKaak: A Very Sri Lankan Struggle".
This protest & civic education book for kids is in solidarity with the #GotaGoHome2022 aragalaya: archive.org/details/01-kap…
Please read & share for free! 1/8
This protest & civic education book for kids is in solidarity with the #GotaGoHome2022 aragalaya: archive.org/details/01-kap…
Please read & share for free! 1/8
The book talks to kids about the people's struggle & how they can safely join in.
It also talks about our past, how we've treated each other, our violent and uncomfortable history; & our future, how we can be active citizens to build a fairer, safer & more beautiful country. 2/8
It also talks about our past, how we've treated each other, our violent and uncomfortable history; & our future, how we can be active citizens to build a fairer, safer & more beautiful country. 2/8
Trying to write our country's complex & challenging story for kids forced me to really drill down to core concepts & issues.
Deshan's fabulous artwork elevates the book to another level. It was sheer joy to watch him create such beautiful, surreal, funny & painful images! 3/8
Deshan's fabulous artwork elevates the book to another level. It was sheer joy to watch him create such beautiful, surreal, funny & painful images! 3/8
I usually write threads about early second millennium Buddhism, but my MA (my first step into Sri Lanka Studies) was about contemporary Buddhist nationalists coopting US “war on terror” rhetoric. Something similar has recently targeted #GotaGoGama and the අරගලය
I’ve also written these rather hasty thoughts up on my website, if you prefer that format to a Twitter thread! brunomshirley.com/writing/lootin…
In my MA, I argued that groups like Bodu Bala Sēnā don’t just invoke LTTE-era narratives about the Mahavamsa, Dutugemunu or the need to protect Buddhism.
"Is #GotaGoGama and the violence of the 9th evening orchestrated by left-wing parties?" -- A THREAD.
Those who know me, will identify me as historically right-of-center, pro-west, pro-free-enterprise and generally anti-communist. #SriLanka 1/
Those who know me, will identify me as historically right-of-center, pro-west, pro-free-enterprise and generally anti-communist. #SriLanka 1/
I am a vice president and shareholder of a global tech company (previously VP of a fortune 100 corporation) and a graduate of Moratuwa University, then heavily opposed to IUSF. Read these comments through that lens. 2/
I (and many other tech company leaders) joined the protests to help create an environment in #SriLanka that can retain our best minds (who are now leaving), without whom I have no job. 3/
May 11th, yesterday - scenes from a mellow but alert and hopeful #Gotagogama. Tents have been repaired, there are books in the library again, everyone speaks to of calm and non-violence and tea was being made in the evening. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota
'We ask everyone to be calm. Save your strength - we have more to do, not to set fires. This isn't a place to sacrifice lives. We remember those who hit us till we bled - 'nahi verena verani, වෛරයෙන් වෛරය නොසන්සිදේ' (violence doesn't drive out violence) #lka #srilanka #GoHomeGota
'Many think those who follow the law are spineless. Politicians see if we break their laws while they broke them completely.
We don't want a military government. We don't want a dictatorship. We want a government that respects people's sovereignty.' #lka #srilanka #GoHomeGota
We don't want a military government. We don't want a dictatorship. We want a government that respects people's sovereignty.' #lka #srilanka #GoHomeGota
We got to #GotaGoGama around 2.30pm yesterday. By then the lawyers had done their job. We were allowed to move through two heavily armed lines unhindered. Was unable to livestream due to bandwidth issues in the area.
Crowds were thin at first, but soon the cavalry arrived. The Cardinal spoke from the barrier soon after.
GGG began to receive reports of the Temple Trees crowd’s buses being attacked around 4pm. Gladly the violence did not reach GGG. Only as we went home in the night did we see the full extent of the carnage.
'Today is one month that Nande has been at home'
Scenes from a #Gotagogama that has immediately started rebuilding, and evolving situations elsewhere.
Please stay safe. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota
Scenes from a #Gotagogama that has immediately started rebuilding, and evolving situations elsewhere.
Please stay safe. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota
'You thought you could crush our protest with your violence and bloodshed. We thank all those who stood with us and say, we will be stronger now'
Spirits seemingly high on the barricade when we eventually made it there. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota
Spirits seemingly high on the barricade when we eventually made it there. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota
Scenes from the Maadan Badhrakali Puja, last night at #Gotagogama/Galle Face.
With thanks to everyone who translated and explained the parts of the ceremony as it went on. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota
With thanks to everyone who translated and explained the parts of the ceremony as it went on. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota
The rituals came to #LKA with Indian labourers brought by British colonisers & are continued by their descendants, the Malaiyaha Tamil community.
The deities are village guardians, who were worshipped before formal Hinduism began & they can speak to in their own languages. #lka
The deities are village guardians, who were worshipped before formal Hinduism began & they can speak to in their own languages. #lka
The Vikki Parai Isai group from Ingiriya heating the drums to tune them before the ritual. Parai drums are played by oppressed castes & is a key part of Malaiyaha Tamil culture, along with dances such as the kooththu, all of which their ancestors brought from India. #lka.
The Samathai drummers from Batticaloa joined in and lead the final stretch of the artists' protest yesterday.
Thread of some scenes and stories from both these powerful elements. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022
Thread of some scenes and stories from both these powerful elements. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022
Tamil and Muslim women from Ampara, Batticaloa and Jaffna visited #Gotagogama yesterday. They raised the issues they were facing due to the #EconomicCrisisLK and issues of justice they'd been fighting for years. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota
They drummed, sang and took up space at the barricade. I might be wrong but I've never heard that much Tamil spoken at the barricade since this protest started. There were short translations so listeners could understand. It was A Moment. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota
Blindfolding Bandaranaike: Arrived at Galle Face to this powerful sight.
Thread of a few more things that happened at #Gotagogama today.
#lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022 #TakeBackOurPower
Thread of a few more things that happened at #Gotagogama today.
#lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022 #TakeBackOurPower
Rally by the Medical Faculty Student Action Committee, raising issues of the lack of medication and the patients whose lives are at risk. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022
Medical Faculty rally and the ongoing protest by IT Professionals merge near the statue. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022
General strike - some scenes of various trade union protests that arrived at Galle Face/#Gotagogama today. The uniting demand - #GoHomeGota - is for GR & his family must answer for their failures, then go to jail. Power to the people ✊🏾 #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota2022
March by a mixture of trade unions leaving from Fort Railway and heading to GGG. Posters focus on state violence & the murder in #Rambukkana. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022
Collective of Ports unions & several other small groups protest outside Fort Railway Station. #lka #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022
REGISTERING YOUR BUSINESS IN THE #USA FOR #SRILANKANS! As promised, here is a 🧵 on how you can register your business in the USA and open yourself to a global market of potential customers, accept foreign payments and open a US Corporate bank account!
Please note that since this is a thread, I have simplified the entire process here. There may be a few extra steps, which ARE NOT substantial. Once you go through this, I will host a Twitter Space to answer your questions. And before we start, total cost for this is under $400.
First things first. The actual legislation can get a bit confusing, and there are different types of business entities you can set up. For the sake of simplicity, I will assume most of you are single-owner businesses and SMEs. Therefore, a Single-Owner LLC is the way forward.
A quick thread on how government expenditure is almost always paid for the people - in 1 of 3 ways
#SriLankaEconomicCrisis #SriLanka #lka (#GotaGoGama #GoHomeRajapakshas #GotaGoHome2022 #අරගලයටජය for reach)
(1/9)
#SriLankaEconomicCrisis #SriLanka #lka (#GotaGoGama #GoHomeRajapakshas #GotaGoHome2022 #අරගලයටජය for reach)
(1/9)
Whenever a government has an expense, it's paid in 1 of 3 ways.
1. Taxes
2. Loans
3. Money printing
Despite what it looks like, taxes are often the least anti-poor
(2/9)
1. Taxes
2. Loans
3. Money printing
Despite what it looks like, taxes are often the least anti-poor
(2/9)
Let's start with money printing - I explained it detail here but what matters is that excess printing just results in inflation.
(3/9)
(3/9)
In our continued look at #protests and past civil disobedience in our #history, today we're covering the May Day Rallies and labour strikes of early 19th century #srilanka and seeing what we can learn from their success...
#GoHomeGota2022 #EconomicCrisisLK #GotaGoGama #lka
#GoHomeGota2022 #EconomicCrisisLK #GotaGoGama #lka
The origins of these labour protests can be traced back to colonial rule. Many low-class native Sri Lankans worked in factories and estates while British business owners simply managed their monopolies. Wages were low, hours were long, and little to no facilities were provided.
Across the globe during the 19th, people in these circumstances began demanding better rights. Many were inspired by the ideas of the ideals of the Buddhist Theological Society and the Sarasavi Sandaresa, the first unions were formed and teachers began striking in the 1890s.
Following import substitution, self-sufficiency, and local production didn't work out for Sri Lanka in the last 2 years. My longest 🧵yet to explain - promise it's worth it!
(1/30)
#SriLankaCrisis #SriLanka #lka (#GotaGoGama #GoHomeGota #GoHomeRajapakshas #අරගලයටජය for reach)
(1/30)
#SriLankaCrisis #SriLanka #lka (#GotaGoGama #GoHomeGota #GoHomeRajapakshas #අරගලයටජය for reach)
Now, these ideas are often "common sense". It sounds good - if we have a forex problem, lets stop importing and make it ourself! Lets be self-sufficent, why depend on others?
But econ ISN'T common sense - so let's go through my view on why these don't work.
(2/30)
But econ ISN'T common sense - so let's go through my view on why these don't work.
(2/30)
The main idea behind these is basically - produce goods locally, ideally goods we currently import, and sometimes, hope to export later.
So 3 broad benefits spoken of
1. Save/grow forex
2. Increase GDP
3. Have a backup if global trade fails
Lets go through all of these
(3/30)
So 3 broad benefits spoken of
1. Save/grow forex
2. Increase GDP
3. Have a backup if global trade fails
Lets go through all of these
(3/30)
I promise I'll try my best to make this not-boring, but let's talk taxes in Sri Lanka.
#SriLanka #SriLankaEconomicCrisis #lka (also #GotaGoGama #OccupyGalleFace #අරගලයටජය #GotaGoHome2022 for reach)
(1/24)
#SriLanka #SriLankaEconomicCrisis #lka (also #GotaGoGama #OccupyGalleFace #අරගලයටජය #GotaGoHome2022 for reach)
(1/24)
Our tax revenue before 2019 was about 11-12% of GDP. After the tax cuts, this came down to around 8%. Both in comparison to around 12-14% in non-debt expenditure (about 16% in 2019 due to election goodies)
Explained how this was a problem here
(2/24)
Explained how this was a problem here
(2/24)
In an attempt to make this easier to digest, going to bring back Rehan (our rich guy), Pasan (who I've made less poor than he was), and a new fellow Ayesh who's basically in poverty.
Rehan earns 500k a month. Pasan earns 50k. Ayesh earns 15k.
(3/24)
Rehan earns 500k a month. Pasan earns 50k. Ayesh earns 15k.
(3/24)
Let me try and explain the Uganda banknote mess as much as I can and how it relates to Sri Lanka and how it doesn't.
#SriLanka #SriLankaEconomicCrisis #lka (also tagging #GotaGoGama #OccupyGalleFace for the reach)
(1/22)
#SriLanka #SriLankaEconomicCrisis #lka (also tagging #GotaGoGama #OccupyGalleFace for the reach)
(1/22)
As I understand it, there are 2 separate issues here, which may be linked together in a way we don't yet know.
1. Uganda's own money laundering issues
2. De La Rue printing Ugandan money and SLA airlifting it
(2/22)
1. Uganda's own money laundering issues
2. De La Rue printing Ugandan money and SLA airlifting it
(2/22)
Lets start with Uganda's own issues.
Uganda has had money laundering concerns for a while, and especially terrorist financing issues. This is unfortunately true for some countries in Sub Saharan Africa.
(3/22)
Uganda has had money laundering concerns for a while, and especially terrorist financing issues. This is unfortunately true for some countries in Sub Saharan Africa.
(3/22)
මෙන්න සුමල් පෙරේරාගේ අද ගේම. පැටිකිරිය සහ පරණ කතා coming soon. If you are wondering why Johnston Fernando was one of just FOUR ministers kept in Cabinet, its to do one LAST GREAT HIGHWAY ROBBERY.
#SriLanka #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022 #lka #GoHomeRajapakshas #GoHomeRajapaksas
#SriLanka #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022 #lka #GoHomeRajapakshas #GoHomeRajapaksas
While the people are demanding that #RajapaksasGoHome, the family is trying to pull one major scam in close partnership with crony businessmen of the likes of Sumal Perera of Access Group. #GotaGoGama #අරගලයටජය #GotaGoHome #SLnews
The consortium, calling itself the Lanka Infrastructure Development Consortium (LIDC) comprises of Access Engineering, Maga Engineering, ICC, KDAW and NEM Construction.
I'm going to do a single political thread on the #GotaGoGama #GoHomeGota #OccupyGalleFace protest and a threat it faces. Might be contentious, but please give alternative views.
#SriLankaCrisis #SriLankaEconomicCrisis #SriLanka
(1/20)
#SriLankaCrisis #SriLankaEconomicCrisis #SriLanka
(1/20)
Starting off with a few disclaimers.
I think the protests are great for Sri Lanka, I think they've done permanent good already, I think they should continue.
I'm also not a political/social expert - so take this from that POV.
(2/20)
I think the protests are great for Sri Lanka, I think they've done permanent good already, I think they should continue.
I'm also not a political/social expert - so take this from that POV.
(2/20)
The response to the poll confirms something I was concerned about - that there is space for the protest to be attacked based on perceptions of elitism
If a Twitter poll of what protestors think is like this, I feel actual sentiment might be worse
(3/20)
If a Twitter poll of what protestors think is like this, I feel actual sentiment might be worse
(3/20)
What will happen to Sri Lanka, economically, over the next few months, especially to its people?
The answer isn't pretty, but it's something to prepare for.
#SriLankaProtests #SriLanka (Also tagging #GotaGoGama #GoHomeGota #OccupyGalleFace #අරගලයටජය for reach)
(1/11)
The answer isn't pretty, but it's something to prepare for.
#SriLankaProtests #SriLanka (Also tagging #GotaGoGama #GoHomeGota #OccupyGalleFace #අරගලයටජය for reach)
(1/11)
Let's assume there's some sort of political stability at some point. What that is doesn't really matter too much to this thread's outcomes, it just extends the timeline if it's delayed.
With that out of the way - what will SL need to come out of this?
(2/11)
With that out of the way - what will SL need to come out of this?
(2/11)
As long as we keep engaging with the IMF and our creditors, it should hopefully bring enough confidence that there will be some inflows (bilateral, remittances, export conversions, aid) that allow the urgent essential shortages to ease across the next month or two.
(3/11)
(3/11)
Let me go through how remittances work and make a plea, please send money to Sri Lanka.
#SriLankaEconomicCrisis #SriLanka #ProtestLK #EconomicCrisisLK (also #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022 #GotaGoGama for reach)
(1/11)
#SriLankaEconomicCrisis #SriLanka #ProtestLK #EconomicCrisisLK (also #GoHomeGota #GoHomeGota2022 #GotaGoGama for reach)
(1/11)
Think of remittances as when money from outside SL comes into SL on a personal basis.
This can either be
A. From a foreign account to your own local account
or
B. From your foreign account to someone's local account.
(2/11)
This can either be
A. From a foreign account to your own local account
or
B. From your foreign account to someone's local account.
(2/11)
Let's take A first.
In this case, your dollars are sent to a bank account held by a local bank. Now, as long as those dollars are there, the bank can allocate those dollars for other purposes, ie for an outflow of dollars.
No Rajapaksas involved.
(3/11)
In this case, your dollars are sent to a bank account held by a local bank. Now, as long as those dollars are there, the bank can allocate those dollars for other purposes, ie for an outflow of dollars.
No Rajapaksas involved.
(3/11)
JOIN US as we mark 31 days of continuous People’s Protest, at Kohuwela junction on Thurs March 31st!💪🏾
It’s heartening to see so many people’s protests not affiliated to political parties over the weekend! It’s time the people realised their power!
#takebackourpower✊🏾 #lka
It’s heartening to see so many people’s protests not affiliated to political parties over the weekend! It’s time the people realised their power!
#takebackourpower✊🏾 #lka
