Jeana De Zoysa (she/her) is a Sri Lankan writer, safari guide sustainable fashion model and activist. She became involved with the "Aragalaya" (the Sri Lankan national uprising at the face of economic collpase) in April 2022, volunteered in the People Power essentials distribution tent at the #GotaGoGama (main occupation site in Colombo) and was present at the frontlines at most of the major protests.

The "Aragalaya" is also the main topic of this episode. We discuss the origins of the protest movement and the uniting element of the protest which bound together various ethnic, religious, sexual and gender minorities. Then it gets hot as Jeana tells us about the storming about the presidents palace, the reaction of the state force and she shares reflections on the challenges of the decentralized nature of the movement. Lastly, we speak about the current developments of the movement and new forms of resistance.

In this episode it gets POLITICAL and we understand the meaning of "One struggle, One fight" and the calls for system change over reformist efforts on a whole other level. For more background information on the "Aragalaya" Check this blogpost on our website

This podcast is partially funded by Heinrich Böll Stiftung Phnom Penh, Cambodia & Heinrich Böll Stiftung New Delhi, India in collaboration with SafeSpaceBtB

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I am your host Béla Belissima, non-binary soul from Berlin on the journey to dismantle our cis-heteronormative world and look beyond all binaries. Re-writing our narratives and telling our own stories. Thanks for being here