Janaka Biyanwila

two women holding signs

The Frontline Socialist Party actively contributed to the 2022 popular uprising in Sri Lanka. Green Left’s Janaka Biyanwila interviewed Pubudu Jayagoda, who is the FSP’s educational secretary and central committee member about the party's organising work.

Sri Lanka

More than a year after the popular uprising in Sri Lanka that removed an autocratic president, the regime continues to reinforce authoritarian tendencies in implementing debt restructuring reforms, reports Janaka Biyanwila.

Sand film 2023

Janaka Biyanwila reviews Sand (Munnel in Tamil), directed by Visakesa Chandrasekaram, which screened at the Sydney Film Festival.

#GoHomeGota

As Sri Lanka approaches the anniversary of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation in July last year, following a popular uprising, the social struggle continues, reports Janaka Biyanwila.

Goto go gama

Seven months on from the Sri Lankan popular uprising, Janaka Biyanwila looks at how government spin, backed up with state violence, is attempting to keep a lid on popular discontent.

Sri Lanka

After nearly two months in self-imposed exile, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa returned to Sri Lanka on September 3, reports Janaka Biyanwila.

Sri Lanka protest August 2022

The Sri Lankan government has begun escalating its repression against the popular movement that removed former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from office, reports Janaka Biyanwila.

Lahiru Weerasekera, a student leader and key actor in the people’s movement, discusses the new forms of struggle in the mass protests in Sri Lanka.

July 9 Sri Lanka

The people’s movement in Sri Lanka that converged in the last three months achieved its main objective on July 9 with President Nandasena Gotabhaya Rajapakse's offer to resign, reports Janaka Biyanwila.

Women’s Centre leader Padmini Weerasuriya discusses the unfolding Gota Go Gama popular uprising and women workers’ struggles in Sri Lanka.

Despite ongoing protests, shortages, 40% inflation and a historic debt default, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says he will finish his term. His statement comes amid a wave of mass arrests of peaceful protestors, reports Janaka Biyanwila.

Protest in Sri Lanka May 30

In a government that has lost its popular mandate, Ranil Wickramasinghe, former prime minister from the opposition United National Party, has offered his services to rescue Sri Lanka's regime, reports Janaka Biyanwila.