I have a proposal to all those who drive in Sri Lanka. It’s a protest of sorts against a menace that has killed a few, left some severely injured, damaged vehicles and property, and angered even those who don’t drive.
I’m writing about the army and police convoys that clear the streets for ministers, who seem to be in a great hurry to get to their meetings or tea-parties for all we know.
This is something I’ve done and I think if every single driver in Sri Lanka does the same, we might actually be able to rid the roads of these baneful convoys. The roads are public spaces, we shouldn’t be forced off it for some minister who has no qualms about putting our lives at risk.
I’ve been driven frothing mad by these convoys, and I think it’s time we showed the government we aren’t going to be pushed around any more. Articles in the newspapers, news reports and deaths have had no no effect on them, so it’s time we take some action.
The protest is simple. Don’t move.
While driving along a not-so-main-road on a lazy Sunday morning, I heard the deafening honking of the police convoy behind me. I figured that was it. Why should I move for these morons? If the minister is late, he should, like everyone else, leave earlier for whatever function/meeting their heading for. If it’s that their life is at risk (which is a ridiculous excuse) why should we care, considering they don’t give a damn about others on the road?
So I just cruised at 35-40km (within our sad speed limit). Sure, the convoy continued to honk angrily, but what could they do? Run over my car? Shoot me?
I’m part of the public, I’m on public property and I’m abiding by all the road rules. If they hurt me, they will be held responsible. Sure that doesn’t go a long way in Sri Lanka. But just imagine if ALL the traffic refused to be pushed around? There’s nothing they can do about it, and eventually they’re going to have to stop being the greatest menace on our roads.
This could be our little movement! Not exactly Tienanmen Square or the Egyptian revolution. But if we’ve got at least a modicum of democracy left we should make use of it; instead of being such an acquiescent nation.
Yes agreed. Its time the public stand up against these idiotic “escorts”.
Yeah, we need to do something about it.
I like this.but we can’t do more. We have to write about this buffalows to newspaper. Hope one. Will help. Gotabaya.we have to remind him about his word.
We’ve already written about it. The government has paid no heed to the write ups in different newspapers.
I do this all the time. I just ignore and drive on my lane. They eventually pass through. Sometimes they give an angry look but I give back a blank confused look.
Yeah, when the road widened out they over took me and they were quite pissed off. But I looked straight back at them.
I support this wholeheartedly, the only issue is that if one of those morons bashed up my car, I am the one who has to end up paying it. Rather, consider pulling over and putting your hand on the horn, and keep it there till the idiots go – the way I see it, if enough of us do do it, together, we are sending a collective message
Exactly! As a group, what are they going to do? They can’t bash up all the cars.
Hahaha .. Are you fricking kidding me?! It’s alrite for you girls. Have you seen or heard incidents where army folks came and beat a driver senseless because he didn’t let them overtake? You girls are so cute. I for one don’t want to get beaten up so I’ll move back as far as I can when I hear or see these assholes on the road.
What I’m suggesting is that it’s a collective effort. Of course if you’re on a very busy main road there would be too many witnesses for them to beat you up. But that aside, if all the vehicles around at the time don’t shift they can’t really do anything. They aren’t going to beat up everyone.
Honestly, if we want change in this country we’ve got to take some stance whatever the risk involved. How far are we going to be pushed before we ask for our rights?
I was driving back from Unawatuna once (on the coast road, not the highway), doing around a 100kmph, when this convoy came up on me, horns blaring, etc. So I pulled over to the inside lane, dropped two gears, and floored it. I wasn’t blocking them, but they couldn’t overtake ‘cos I was matching their speed. They kept increasing it, and I did too until we were all doing about 160kmph. Then they backed off and let me go. I thought they might radio ahead and get the cops to stop me, so as soon as they were out of sight I stopped at Bentota and stood by my car, smoking, until they whizzed past. All the commandos had a good look at me, but they were smiling
Smiling? Strange… they’re usually quite ticked off. But of course it’s good that the took it well. I do hope they’d do away with the police escorts. I’m not sure if it’s part of the emergency regulation though, should check.
Wish i had the guts to try this out… but keep remembering stories of people who have been bashed or beaten up
What I’m suggesting is that ALL the vehicles do it as a group. If you’re alone you can move aside for them. But if you’re on a busy, densely packed road and if all the vehicles refused to give them space then there’s nothing they can do about it. They can’t smash all the vehicles out of their way