[rapa]

Despite there were no tear gas, no police assaults, or no bomb threat rumors this time, the organizers of “Jana Rala” achieved a certain level of success in their rally. Though only around 50,000 attended the rally, after boasting to bring a 100,000 “Ranil Supporters” to Colombo, Maharaja’s cameramen and media men did the “production work” perfectly. We do have powerful video editing tools these days. They were heavily backed up by Wijewardena family business, “Wijeya Newspapers”.



Expenses wise there were nothing much spent, other than the costs for free lunch packets, 250/- in cash for participants, and the “unlimited free flow of alcohol” sponsored by “Kotte Ravi”. It was a gala party on the road!

A tear gas treatment from Police was the ideal thing in the minds of organizers. It would have boosted the effect of the rally to a great extent, and give them a good topic for go on for propaganda for another 6 months. But, for their disappointment, the police didn’t responded this time. Mangala said, there were “one or two” buses full of SLFP (M) supporters but no one knew where those buses were parked

Pappara bands and Rosy’s dance group was trademark features of “Ranil’s Rally”. After all, that’s what Ranil promise to people of Sri Lanka once he’s elected. Pappara bands and alcohol to forget all the problems in the country, and more “Rosys” to build the Colombo night economy. Ranil clearly got a good set of solutions to all the problems!

Thanks to the Jana Rala, the traffic jam in Colombo eased out a lot during Thursday. Parents decided not keep their children at home without sending them to schools. Many went on “sick leave”. Many avoided taking their vehicles to the roads. (Those who do not have insurance covers for riots and rampages)

What a rally of demonstration that was! I think we should organize this as a street parade of Colombo, annually. We can get a huge boost for our tourism industry with that!