The People’s Movement for Renaissance comprising a diverse group of progressive civil society activists, academic intellectuals, lawyers, artists and political figures was launched recently at the Mahaweli Centre where a press conference was held to mark the launch. The Movement was formed to represent the vision of the National People’s Power (NPP) and to drive a new national renaissance through social transformation achieved by the people. This Movement is committed to a social transformation through a renaissance in all areas based on this crucial moment in history, when people who were powerless will be empowered for the first time.
This victory marks that power for the first time in history has been transferred to the masses – Vidura Munasinghe
Vidura Munasinghe, a member of the People’s Movement for Renaissance, at a press conference outlined the historic significance of the NPP’s victory at the Presidential election. He said this victory marks the first time in history that power has been transferred to the masses. He said that the long-standing regime of a corrupt political elite has fallen into crisis as a result of this dramatic change.
Vidura said, “Traditional civil society movements which had close ties with the elite political regime have also lost their legitimacy and credibility in this shifting landscape. In the light of this situation, I’m a member of a new civil society movement that embodies the vision of the NPP aimed at achieving a national renaissance through significant social transformation driven by the populace.”
With this in mind, he outlined the mission of the Movement which comprises progressive activists, academic intellectuals, lawyers, artists and political figures. “The Movement will engage in decisive intervention at ideological and policy levels as well as in the public sphere. We support granting a majority in Parliament to the NPP in the upcoming general election.” he said.
This moment is a renaissance, a new awakening for the people and their spirit – Janaha Selvaras
Janaha Selvaras, a senior lecturer at the Open University in Nawala told the press conference, “With the establishment of a new regime, we are not reverting to the same old systems of the past. This moment is a renaissance, a new awakening for the people and their spirit.” She said the new political regime has introduced a fresh political culture, with a mandate to end political elitism and combat corruption.
“For a long time, the people of the country have called for political change and true representation,” she said.
“The Aragalaya Movement has been a pivotal moment in this pursuit. Today, there is widespread happiness among the populace regarding the paradigm shift represented by this new political change. As a Movement, we aim to further establish this transformation in the upcoming general election and extend our support to the National People’s Power to empower the people with a majority in Parliament.”
Without the inclusion of every section of society, it is impossible to combat the corrupt authoritative system – Brito Fernando
At the press conference, Brito Fernando, a human rights activist, said, “The victory of Comrade Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the recently concluded Presidential election was historic. It is a victory for every individual who participated in the Aragalaya Movement. Ultimately, it is a victory for the people of the country. It is our duty to safeguard this victory from racist, neoliberal, authoritarian, and hostile forces while securing the people’s hopes. We believe that building a national consensus is an essential task.”
He highlighted that recently in Jaffna, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasised that their intention is to establish a Government for the first time in history that has the trust of the people across the North, South, East and West — an inclusive Government for all citizens of the country. “This is a powerful and conscious statement,” Brito said, “As without the inclusion of every section of society, it is impossible to combat the corrupt authoritative system in the country. The results of the Presidential election indicate that the NPP could not encompass all factions of the populace.”
Brito stressed the importance of gaining not only the support of the southern voter base but also that of the North, East and the Malaiyaha Tamil community at the upcoming General Election. He expressed concern about the credibility of certain statements made by NPP representatives, particularly those regarding the ICCPR Act and trade unions, indicating that these issues raise doubts about their intentions.
As a representative of the Families of the Disappeared, Brito demanded justice for those who have gone missing, calling for compensation and a necessity to reveal the truth about their fate. “For the past thirty years in this country, a number of persons had disappeared or had been murdered as a result of political unrest. To ensure that this does not happen again, it is paramount to uncover the truth and deliver justice for the families of victims. I hope the NPP Government will pay special attention to this matter.”
We must support and engage with the Government through constructive criticism to fulfill the mandate they have promised – Dr. Sasanka Perera
At the conference, Dr. Sasanka Perera articulated his political stance and rationale for supporting the NPP Government, despite not being a member of the NPP, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) or the People’s Movement for Renaissance. He said, “I am a stranger to party politics in this country. However, there was a pragmatic change at the recently concluded Presidential election, resulting in a transformation of the political system that has been in place since the colonial and post-colonial eras. This is the major significance of the Presidential election. As responsible citizens, if we fail to grasp the gravity of this historic victory and carry it forward, it will be a failure.”
He expressed appreciation for the progress made by the NPP Government, particularly given the limited resources and short timeframe. “It is, therefore, important to support them in bringing this mandate forward with a comfortable majority in Parliament,” he said.
He called upon everyone to consciously and wisely use their vote at the upcoming general election to ensure the victory of the people’s progressive mandate. Dr. Perera stressed the importance of remaining actively engaged after the elections. “I take it as my responsibility to hold the Government accountable,” he said. “I do not wish to be a member of the Government, but we must support and engage with them through constructive criticism to fulfill the mandate they have promised and that we are presently supporting.”
The new Government must integrate participatory democracy into foundational documents – Dr. Jagath Weerasinghe
At the press conference, Dr. Jagath Weerasinghe emphasiaed a novel approach to the present political context in Sri Lanka. He said that there is a monumental change in the political landscape with the election of the new President, adding that this could be the first and last opportunity for the people to establish a new political convention within and beyond Parliament. He said that as forward-thinking citizens, this upcoming General Election presents a golden opportunity to create an accountable Government that fosters a new political culture and incorporates the principles of participatory democracy in the Constitution.
Dr. Weerasinghe said that nearly every document governing the country today is rooted in the feudal system and the lack of understanding or implementation of participatory democracy is a primary factor behind many of the conflicts faced by the nation. He said that the first task of the Government formed after the upcoming election should be to integrate the concept of participatory democracy into the foundational documents of the country.
In explaining the intention of the People’s Movement for Renaissance, many speakers emphasised the importance of establishing a civil society Movement that thoroughly understands the dynamics of the ongoing struggle. Rather than simply criticising Government policies, this Movement should actively engage in facilitating meaningful changes within the State structure, aligning with the policy framework and vision of the NPP. By collaborating with the Government, they aim to achieve significant social transformation that goes beyond a mere change of administration, fulfilling the promises made to the people as representatives of the National People’s Power, particularly those outlined in its manifesto.
In the light of these principles, the primary objective is to provide strong support for the mission to create a developed Sri Lanka through a renaissance. This effort seeks to embody the aspirations of the populace and ensure that the vision for a more equitable and prosperous nation becomes a reality. This collaborative approach is intended to empower citizens and amplify their voices in shaping the future of the country.
Sandun Thudugala, Dr. Sasanka Perera, Brito Fernando, Kumari Kumaragamage, Dr. Jagath Weerasinghe, Vidhura Munasinghe, Janaha Selvaras, Dr. Singarapille Ariwalahan, Vangeesa Sumanasekara, Airudeen Nihal Ahmed, Chamila Thushari, Chinthaka Rajapakse, Ranga Manupriya and Chamara Haththotuwa also participated.
