Street protests took place in Sri Lanka on Friday as protesters blocked major roads across the country
Colombo:
Sri Lanka’s president declared a state of emergency on Friday, handing out sweeping powers to security forces a day after hundreds of people tried to storm his home in anger over an unprecedented economic crisis. Yes.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa invoked tough laws that would allow the military to arrest and detain suspects for long periods without trial as protests for his removal spread across the South Asian nation.
The state of emergency was declared for “protecting public order and maintaining essential supplies and services for the life of the community,” he said in a statement.
The nation of 22 million is facing severe shortages of essentials, soaring prices and crippling power cuts during its most painful recession since independence from Britain in 1948. .
Police re-imposed a night-time curfew on Friday in Western province, including the capital Colombo, expanding the no-go zone from the night before.
Earlier, in the evening, dozens of human rights activists carried handwritten banners and oil lamps in the capital as they protested at a busy intersection.
“It’s time to leave Rajapaksas,” said one poster. “No more corruption, go home to Gota,” said another – referring to the president.
In the highland town of Nuwara Eliya, activists blocked the opening of a flower exhibition of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s wife, Shiranthi, police said.
The southern towns of Galle, Matara and Moratuwa also staged anti-government protests, and similar protests have been reported in the northern and central regions. All have blocked traffic on the main roads.
– ‘Lunatic, go home’-
The unrest on Thursday night outside the president’s private home prompted hundreds of people to demand his resignation.
People chanted “out of mind, out of mind, go home,” before police fired tear gas and used water cannons.
The mob turned violent, setting fire to two military buses, a police jeep, two patrol motorcycles and a tricycle. They also threw bricks at the officers.
At least two protesters were injured. Police said 53 protesters were arrested, but local media organizations said five photographers were also detained and tortured at a local police station, an allegation the government denies. know they will investigate.
The police and military presence was beefed up on Friday.
– ‘The terrorists’ –
Two government ministers said a major intelligence failure put the lives of the president and his wife in jeopardy on Thursday.
Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters in Colombo: “Both the president and first lady are at home while the protests are ongoing,” while refuting earlier claims that they were away at the time. there.
“We’ve had information about a protest, but there’s nothing to suggest it could turn violent. This is a major intelligence failure.”
Transport Minister Dilum Amunugama said “terrorists” were behind the unrest.
The Rajapaksa office said on Friday that protesters wanted to create an “Arab Spring” – a reference to anti-government protests in response to corruption and economic stagnation that have taken place in China. East over a decade ago.
One of the president’s older brothers, Mahinda, serves as prime minister while the youngest, Basil, is finance minister. His eldest brother and grandson also hold cabinet positions.
Sri Lanka’s predicament has been compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has hit the tourism and remittance industries.
Many economists also say the crisis has been exacerbated by government mismanagement and accumulated debt over the years.
– Record inflation –
The latest official data released on Friday showed inflation in Colombo reaching 18.7% in March, a sixth consecutive monthly record. Food prices rose to a record 30.1%.
Colombo imposed a broad import ban in March 2020 in an effort to save the foreign currency needed to pay off nearly $7.0 billion this year to pay off its $51 billion debt.
Diesel shortages since Thursday have sparked outrage across Sri Lanka in recent days, sparking protests at empty pumps.
The state electricity monopoly said it was enforcing a 13-hour daily power cut from Thursday – the longest ever – because it did not have diesel for generators.
Some state-run hospitals, facing shortages of life-saving drugs, have discontinued routine surgeries.
The government said it was seeking a bailout from the International Monetary Fund while asking for more loans from India and China.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from the syndication feed.)
