Sri Lanka: The Sound of Protest Amidst Crisis

After a massive and momentous protest on July 9, 2022, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister have agreed to resign. Thousands gathered despite unconstitutional “police curfew” and a potential internet shutdown, storming the Presidential Secretariat and the President’s official residence. Upon orders of SSP Romesh Liyanage, Special Task Forces officers assaulted four members of a news team, kicking a 23 year old woman reporter in the head. At least 60 people were injured. Footage shows police assisting arsonists out of the Prime Minister’s residence which was set ablaze, though it has been reported as a violent retaliation by protesters.

RIIS, a Sri Lankan Tamil rapper based in Dubai, released “Voice of Our Nation” on April 17, 2022, at the height of the protests. He switched between English, Tamil and Sinhala, to reach every Sri Lankan. “We broke the big time illusion,” he said, proud of the awakening that was taking place, and taking the opportunity to demand that Tamil genocide is finally acknowledged.

Even from afar, RIIS recognized that this unique political moment allowed for all demands to be voiced, though, ultimately, only a few were really heard and repeated by the protest at large.

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