Colombo, Peace and Conflict, Politics and Governance, Post-War, War Crimes

Video from second day of Wimal Weerawansa’s fast unto death

The National Freedom Front (NFF), in a procession from Bullers Road, approached the Russian Embassy today and met with officials inside the premises. The second day of Wimal Weerawansa’s fast unto death (and the third day of NFF’s agitation in front of the UN in Colombo) saw him call a press conference in the afternoon.

In his physically weakened condition, what he said was not voluble enough to be captured by Vikalpa’s video camera. However, a woman’s strident and emotionally charged call to save his life at the end of the video captures the essential volatility of the situation in front of the UN, and how quickly a deterioration in Wimal’s condition, a statement by him, or action by the NFF can escalate tensions, with a domino effect elsewhere in the country by party loyalists and others.

Also during the course of the 9th, though Wimal Weerawansa sought to resign from his Ministerial post of Housing and Construction, the President refused to accept his resignation.