Home Democratising State Power through Alternative Means Participants of street demonstrations in Sri Lanka are usually limited to supporters of political parties, students, the unemployed or trade unions etc. Seeing the country’s elite or professional communities such as those in the picture, participating in a silent vigil in Colombo to protest the sudden dissolution of Parliament by the President is a rare sight. Sri Lankans need to re-think and introduce sustainable movements if democratic and people- centred governance is to be maintained.