- ‘GotaGoGama’ commemorates 50 days
What started as some scattered tents, a couple of bags full of food and rations, and a few passionate and motivated individuals that wanted to fight for our rights and our country, is now a fully blown self-sustained environment.
The little village by the sea that came to be known as “GotaGoGama” marked 50 days in operation on 28 May – and what an eventful 50 days it has been. In a little over a month, several changes have taken place in the country, and for the first time in a long time, people’s voices are being heard.
A month or so ago, one could probably count the handful of tents put up, but now it has turned into its own village where people have taken to growing food, building showers, opening a library, a college, a legal assistance faculty, a recycling centre and kitchens, and more tents with petitions to sign – basically most basic necessities one would need to keep up the resistance for an extended period of time.
Although “GotaGoGama” was brutally attacked on 9 May, the citizens occupying Galle Face did not give up the fight. They rebuilt it from scratch, with improvements, and said the movement would live on. After all the political unrest that has been taking place recently, spirits were higher than ever on day 50 at “GotaGoGama” – several people adorned in various clothes, headbands, and even body paint with the same message, “Go home Gota” were parading around, chanting slogans, raising placards in the air. To commemorate the day, a march took place, joined by several citizens, from Independence Square to Galle Face Green, where the rest of day continued with people voicing their dissent and demanding their requests be met.
Towards nighttime, several local artists and bands gathered to sing songs of freedom, while musicals, skits and dramas too were performed in all languages. The pouring rain did not quell the fires burning in the people’s souls, even as the clock turned 2.00 a.m. Claps, cheers, and roars of agreement resonated within the premises – feedback from the crowds bounced off the bands and the fires of rebellion were kindled.
Brunch took a stroll around the protest site and asked people what they think of the concept that is “GotaGoGama” or GGG, and how far they’ve come from its humble beginnings.
Kavindi Fernando, who was at the site after attending the afternoon march, told us that she admires the spirit of the citizens in our country for holding on to hope for so long.
“While many are on the verge of giving up, it’s easy to look at GGG and hold on to hope again, watching everyone on the road, demanding their rights and not giving up,” she observed. Despite her overall positive outlook, she also noted that people do need to be more mindful of littering. Like us, she too had noticed the increase in people at the site – and of course, with more people comes more single-use plastic, so she urged everyone to either clean up after themselves or dump the trash at the recycling centres or the garbage collection spots located everywhere around the premises. “If we are fighting for a better future, the environment is also part of it,” she added.
Amar Riyaz highlighted perhaps one of the more touching aspects of GGG, saying: “I think it’s a beautiful manifestation of oneness and unity.”
He believes that the inherent negativity around the world is always louder than the positive and that’s why it gets so much attention. “This makes people think that ‘it is the worst that it has been’. That’s not true. The ‘worst’ is just louder. The unity we see at GGG is a clear indication of this. A hundred years ago, who would have thought Muslims, Buddhists, and Tamils would break bread together?”
He pointed out that we should embrace this newfound unity and work towards a wholesome tomorrow.
Another protester, Keerthi Kirsh, who has been attending the protests as often as he could, noted that the large pressure “GotaGoGama” put on the Government played a key role in some changes that we are seeing in the country.
“Even though the place was burned to the ground a few weeks ago, we rebuilt it, and will keep building it until all of our demands are met. 
We will not be placated with small changes, we want Gota to resign,” he shared. He also emphasised that this has been taking place for 50 days, and it has remained peaceful throughout. “The only time that violence took place was when it was provoked. No one will sit and watch while people burn the place you call home to the ground. We will remain peaceful as long as the other side, too, plays fair,” he told us.
Several other protestors shared similar sentiments, all urging people to come join them in this revolution, to be a part of the change and fight for yourself, your future and the future of what was once the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.
While the mood at GGG was festive, they have every right to be. Several demands from the protestors have already been met, despite the one represented by the name of the protest – asking for the President’s resignation – falling on deaf ears. If you ask anyone at the site, most would assert that until he goes home, they will not go home either. Whether we will be celebrating a hundred days of the protest soon, or whether the site will be wrapped up after celebrating the current President’s resignation before then, only time will tell.
