Do we really need the opposition to protest right now?

The opposition has announced a major rally on November 21, as a first warning to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, demanding that he fulfills the election pledges made to the nation.

- Your’s Truly, Jamila Husain Editor - In Chief

They say the protest is also to oppose any attempts to suppress opposition parties. While such demonstrations allow the opposition to stay relevant and heard, the question we must all ask is — is this really the right time?

We are all still very much living through the aftershocks of the 2021/2022 political and economic crisis. That period pushed Sri Lanka to the brink, forcing former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign over severe mismanagement that devastated the economy. Although his departure may have been necessary, the political instability that followed continues to influence how the world views our country. Investors remain cautious. Tourism is recovering, but at a painfully slow pace — a pace too slow for a nation desperately trying to rebuild.

Unnecessary protests at this sensitive moment send mixed and damaging signals to the international community. We carry strong memories of the Aragalaya: blocked roads, abandoned businesses, and uncertainty spreading every single day. Although that movement had purpose, repeating constant street activism now risks making the world believe we are still trapped in chaos. Instead, we need to step back from the streets — at least for now — and allow the NPP government the space to prove that the people’s choice in 2024 was not misplaced.