Q: Why is Direction Sri Lanka protesting on this day?

A: We are at a critical time for this country; the youth have risen and they’ve done a wonderful job of bringing about a massive paradigm shift in our socio-political culture.

They have many slogans, which we need to put into action if we’re to move forward as a nation. So as a group of professionals, we thought that if the youth’s slogans need guidance and technical assistance in operationalisation, we should assist.

So lawyers, doctors, architects, accountants, bankers and IT professionals have come together, and drawn up a statement that would offer direction to the youth of Sri Lanka.

This is why we are here; and we want the public to know that we’re with them in all their demands – including the resignation of the prime minister and president, and the formation of an interim administration to get us out of the economic mess we’re in.

Q: As for ‘real change,’ what do you want to see in terms of this demonstration?

A: What we want to impress upon these people is the change that’s on the way. We must not lose momentum. By definition, change is something that is new; not what something was. So we need a new picture – economically, politically and professionally.

As professionals, we are not very involved in politics or in the administration of state affairs. But we too feel that ‘enough is enough.’ Silence is always an option but is it the right option at this moment?

We met as a group and decided that silence isn’t the correct option.

If we want to see change, we need to be the change we want to see. So that is what you are seeing here. We are walking to Galle Face Green from here; and we will have a very peaceful demonstration there. We want to do it within the legal framework and set an example, as the youth are doing.

Q: What are the main takeaways you would like to see from the demonstration?

A: Ours is no different from the vision of the youth at Galle Face Green. All the credit goes to them for having brought this to our notice and we have joined hands with them.

There are basic things that we want. As the tag line suggests, one is Gotagohome, which means the current president leaves office. The prime minister has to resign. And the government has to resign.

An interim governance structure has to be brought in to guide us through this process but that we can work out later. We want this walk to energise the people and the youth’s confidence that the president has to go, the prime minister has to go, the government has to go – that is the message we want to convey.

Q: Are the politicians taking the protests seriously?

A: Absolutely not. They don’t seem to understand the pulse of the people; the pulse of the nation. They’re politicians for themselves, not for the nation.

With all this hullaballoo going on around the country which is being streamed over the media across the world, if they cannot get their act together in the best interests of the people, we cannot say they’re doing the job which they were elected to do.

They are not hearing our voices; they have not shown that they’ve heard it up to now. We hope that they will hear it in the future.