<p>About 700 people arrived in Colombo by route busses and trains and gathered in front of the railway station. It was interesting because the protest took a 'cultural form' as against the conventional or leftist way. There was no shouting of slogans. Instead there were songs on motherhood sung by the &quot;Sadu Janaravaya Group&quot;. The street drama group of JK(?) led the march up to the hall and entertained the gathering with their songs and short dramas.</p><p>It was a public demonstration against the government's policy that allows milk powder multinationals to exploit the hunger of the poor mothers and children to increase their profits.</p><p>In contrast to the preoccupation of the political parties which is obviously power, the concern of the powerless people who gathered there was hunger, malnutrition, famine and effects of war.</p><p>The protest started at about 7:30 am and lasted till 10:00 am. The protesters then peacefully marched along a main street of Colombo to a public hall and held a meeting.</p><p>A young mother from a border village said no political leaders or government officials visit them. The children there have seen only soldiers and police officers and have never seen a doctor or a nurse or any other in their whole life. When they grow up they will only want to become soldiers.</p><p>Another young fisher mother said, &quot;I give milk only once a day to my baby. The earning of my husband is not enough to give the child a normal diet. The income of fishermen has gone down because the prices of fuel have gone up. When I tell my child there is no milk, my child then says give me at least tea. It is a very painful experience for me as a mother.&quot;</p><p>She questioned why our leaders do not see their misery.</p><p>Another mother said, &quot;I only cheat my children. I can not afford to give a full cup of milk. I spread a little milk powder just to make the cup of tea white. I am very much aware of the harm I am causing. But, the prices of milk powder are so high and I am forced to do that.&quot;</p><p>The leaders from the districts declared that this programme should be continued. Protests such as this, the mothers said, should be held not only in Colombo but also in the provincial towns and border villages in order to awaken people there.</p><p>The protest was an outcome of a public campaign organized by the &quot;Mothers against Malnutrition&quot; group of MONLAR.</p><p>(A Report from Colombo)</p><p>1. &quot;It was interesting because the protest took a 'cultural form' as against the conventional or leftist way. There was no shouting of slogans. Instead there were songs on motherhood&quot;.</p><p>Have you tried to use such methods in your protests?</p><p>2. Another mother said. &quot;I only cheat my children. I can not afford to give a full cup of milk. I spread a little milk powder just to make the cup of tea white. I am very much aware of the harm I am causing. But, the prices of milk powder are so high and I am forced to do that.&quot;</p><p>Have you come across such situations?<br /></p>