Ex-Sri Lanka pacer Dhammika Prasad begins 24-hour hunger strike, demands justice for Easter terror attack victims

Dhammika Prasad, a former Sri Lanka cricketer, has begun a 24-hour hunger strike, demanding justice for Easter terror attack victims. Prasad joined the anti-Rajapaksa movement at the Galle Face esplanade located near President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s secretariat. Notably, 269 victims were killed in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The probes have sparked a burst of political headlines, with the Catholic church accusing the government of covering up.

"I want justice for all innocent victims of the bombings," Prasad told reporters. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith is presently leading the protest in order to seek justice for the victims. The 74-year-old has accused the administration of failing to take the investigation seriously because of political motives.

The protest has been ongoing for the past six days and is currently on its seventh day. In order to raise their voices against injustice, an increasing number of young people are joining the protest. Another major cause of the protest has been a lack of basics resources due to the country's huge economic issues.

Protesters are calling for President Gotabaya's resignation due to his inept management of the island's worst-ever economic crisis. Sri Lanka is now experiencing 12-hour power outages as well as severe shortages of food, fuel, and other necessities such as medications.

Prasad, appeared in 25 Tests for Sri Lanka, taking 75 wickets at an average of 36. He also played 24 ODI's, taking 32 wickets at an average of 30.5.

Meanwhile, the 1996 World Cup-winning captain, Arjuna Ranatunga, has urged Sri Lankan players participating in the Indian T20 League to join the protests as well. "I am sure you all know who are the players, playing in the IPL. I don't want to mention but I would want them to leave their job for a week and come in support of the protests," NDTVsports quoted him saying.