protestors – Son of the Morning Light

No More Street Cred

March 7, 2023March 7, 2023 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/img_6734.jpg — Protestors in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, demand the reinstatement of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his United National Party government, in October 2018.

^{• 200mm • f/5.6 • 1/400 • ISO200 • 600D & EF-S18-200/3.5-5.6 • polariser •}

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When it All Began #2

August 19, 2022 David Blacker1 Comment

Before it became the ‘Aragalaya’. Before it became a bandwagon for the JVP. Before the antharé and the political speeches and the Gotagogama. Just regular Sri Lankan people, desperate and angry and demanding change. Green Path, Colombo. 4th April 2022.

^{• 70mm • f/11 • 1/500 • ISO800 •}

When it All Began

August 17, 2022August 17, 2022 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/img_4541.jpg — Before it became the ‘Aragalaya’. Before it became a bandwagon for the JVP. Before the antharé and the street performers and the Gotagogama. Just regular Sri Lankan people, desperate and angry and demanding change. Green Path, Colombo. 4th April 2022.

^{• 120mm • f/5.6 • 1/400 • ISO400 •}

Gota, Go Home

July 28, 2022July 28, 2022 David Blacker1 Comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/img_7854.jpg — Except for its flag seemingly at half-mast in deference, the façade of the US Embassy remains impassive to the Sri Lankans protesting before it, on Galle Road, in Colombo, on 9th July 2022, demanding President Gotabaya Rajapakse resign. A former dual citizen, Rajapakse gave up his American nationality to run for the Sri Lankan presidency in November 2019. There is now speculation, however, on whether he had divested himself of his US citizenship at the time of his nomination, leading to further queries on the legality of his presidency. By the end of the day, Rajapakse would announce his resignation and, three days later, would be refused a visa to enter the USA. On 13th July he would flee to the Maldives, and on to Singapore, accused of corruption, ineptness, and creating the biggest economic catastrophe in Sri Lankan history.

^{• 18mm • f/3.5 • 1/3200 • ISO400 •}

Court of the People

July 26, 2022July 25, 2022 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/img_7918e.jpg — Young protestors celebrate as news arrives on social media that Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapakse has agreed to step down. Galle Face Court, Colombo. 9th July 2022. Months of public protest culminated in violent clashes between demonstrators and the authorities, and the storming of the presidential palace and several government offices. Rajapakse would flee to the Maldives four days later, accused of corruption and ineptness, and causing the biggest economic disaster in the country’s recorded history.

^{• 18mm • f/3.5 • 1/2500 • ISO400 •}

Under the Temple Trees

July 22, 2022July 21, 2022 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/img_8201e.jpg — Young protestors occupy the grounds of Temple Trees, the official Colpetty residence of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. 9th July 2022. The day began with violent clashes between the frontline of the protest and the authorities, who used tear gas, batons, and even live ammunition to hold off protestors from President’s House, in the Colombo Fort, until its reviled resident, Gotabaya Rajapakse, could escape to safety. In contrast, Temple Trees was captured with little violence, in the late afternoon; Mahinda Rajapakse, the president’s brother, having been forced out of office in May, had left before the residence was overrun. Gotabaya Rajapakse himself would flee the country four days later.

^{• 18mm • f/3.5 • 1/200 • ISO400 •}

A Break in the Aragalaya

July 20, 2022July 19, 2022 David BlackerLeave a comment

A tired protestor celebrates as news arrives on social media that Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapakse has agreed to step down. Galle Face Green, Colombo. 9th July 2022. Months of public protest culminated in violent clashes between demonstrators and the authorities, and the storming of the presidential palace and several government offices. Rajapakse would flee to the Maldives several days later.

^{• 35mm • f/4 • 1/250 • ISO400 •}

The Rank and File of the Revolution

July 19, 2022July 18, 2022 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/img_7965.jpg — Galle Face Green, Colombo. 9th July 2022. Hundreds of thousands of protestors march in support of the demand that Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapakse resign. Accused of corruption and ineptness, and causing the greatest economic disaster in the country’s recorded history, Rajapakse would flee to the Maldives four days later.

^{• 200mm • f/5.6 • 1/1000 • ISO400 •}

A Day Too Late for Smiles

July 15, 2022July 14, 2022 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/img_7919.jpg — Two young Tamil men from the north who had travelled a long way to be at the protests in Colombo on 9th July 2022. The placard accuses Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapakse and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe of playing games while the country was in ruins. They insisted I take their picture and, as word began to trickle through the crowd that Gotabaya had announced he would resign, I asked them to smile. They replied that though they were happy, it was too late for Sri Lankans to smile.

^{• 18mm • f/3.5 • 1/4000 • ISO400 •}

“Api Awa Colombata, Gota Epa Kiwwata!”

July 14, 2022July 14, 2022 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/img_7987.jpg — “අපි ආවා කොළඹට, ගෝටා එපා කිව්වට!” (“We came to Colombo, though Gota said no!”) chant hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans covering the Galle Face Green promenade in downtown Colombo, on 9th July 2022; the culmination of months of demonstrations demanding President Gotabaya Rajapakse step down. Since the protests began in April, Gotabaya’s brothers, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and Finance Minister Basil Rajapakse have been forced to step down, accused of corruption and ineptitude that has caused the worst economic catastrophe in the country’s recorded history. After protestors overran President’s House and several other government offices and official residences on the 9th, and burned down the home of current Prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that night, President Gotabaya Rajapakse fled the country, though he continues to issue decrees while in exile, amidst mounting tension and clashes between protestors and the in Sri Lankan police.

^{• 50mm • f/4.5 • 1/2500 • ISO400 •}