Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo was placed under indefinite curfew in the wake of the violence.
Colombo:
Hundreds of people protesting near the home of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa turned violent on Thursday, with at least one man critically wounded. The residents slammed the government’s handling of the country’s crippling economic crisis.
Security forces fired into the crowd and used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the demonstrators, who were demanding President Rajapaksa’s resignation.
Protesters set fire to an army bus parked across the lane leading to Rajapaksa’s home in Colombo’s Mirihana residential quarter, as well as a police vehicle.
President Rajapaksa was not at home during the melee, news agency AFP reported.
Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo was placed under indefinite curfew in the wake of the violence.
The South Asian nation of 22 million people is in the grips of its worst downturn since independence, sparked by an acute lack of foreign currency to pay for even the most essential imports.
Here are the LIVE updates on Sri Lanka Economic Crisis:
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Rajapaksa’s office said Friday that the protesters wanted to create an “Arab Spring” — a reference to anti-government protests in response to corruption and economic stagnation that gripped the Middle East over a decade ago.
“The Thursday night protest was led by extremist forces calling for an Arab Spring to create instability in our country,” the president’s office said in a brief statement.
Sri Lanka | Protests in Colombo outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence as economic crisis deepens in the country (31.03)
(Source: Reuters) pic.twitter.com/Ix4WA6nctD
– ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2022
An overnight curfew imposed in several parts of Colombo, after protests outside Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence over the worsening economic crisis turned violent, was lifted today morning, local media reported.
“The curfew was lifted at 5 am today,” a Sri Lankan daily reported citing a senior police official.
45 people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in yesterday’s protests outside the President’s residence.
Security forces were deployed across the Sri Lankan capital on Friday after protesters tried to storm the president’s home in anger at the nation’s worst economic crisis since independence.
The South Asian nation of 22 million people is facing widespread shortages of essential goods and sharp price rises, weighed down by enormous debt.
Police in Colombo said they arrested 45 people after Thursday night’s unrest, in which one man was critically injured.
A curfew put in place overnight was lifted early Friday morning, but police and military presence was beefed up around the city, where the burnt-out wreckage of a bus was still blocking the road to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s house.
Watch: Late-Night Protest By Thousands Near Lanka President Home, Cops’ Bus BurntPeople in Sri Lankan capital Colombo, suffering for weeks under a terrible economic crisis, erupted in protest late Thursday evening. More than 5,000 people held a protest march in the Lankan capital near the President’s house demanding that he step down, and clashed with the police. The paramilitary police unit, a Special Task Force, had to be called in to quell the protests.
An overnight curfew imposed in several parts of Colombo, after protests outside Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence over worsening economic crisis in the country turned violent, has been lifted, local media reported on Friday.
“The curfew was lifted at 5 am today,” Daily Mirror reported citing Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa.
The curfew was imposed within the Colombo North, South, Colombo Central, Nugegoda, Mount Lavinia and Kelaniya Police Divisions last night.
Sri Lanka Protests: 45 Arrested After Last Night’s Protests In Sri Lankan Capital
45 people have been arrested and 5 police officers have been injured following the protest in Mirihana, Nugegoda last night.
People in Sri Lankan capital Colombo, suffering for weeks under a terrible economic crisis, erupted in protest late Thursday evening. More than 5,000 people held a protest march in the Lankan capital near the President’s house demanding that he step down, and clashed with the police. The paramilitary police unit, a Special Task Force, had to be called in to quell the protests.
“45 people arrested (44 men and 1 woman ) and 5 police officers injured including an ASP and being treated at hospitals following the protest in Mirihana, Nugegoda last night. One police bus, 1 police jeep, 2 motorbikes burnt and one water cannon truck damaged,” a police spokesperson said.
Sri Lanka is turning off street lights to save electricity, a minister said on Thursday. The state electricity monopoly also enforced a 13-hour power cut as they did not have diesel for generators.
Sri Lanka Economic Crisis LIVE Updates: Sri Lanka Out Of Diesel
Diesel was no longer on sale across Sri Lanka on Thursday, crippling transport as the crisis-hit country’s 22 million people endure record-long power blackouts. Petrol was on sale but in short supply, forcing motorists to abandon their cars in long queues.
More than 2000 people held a protest march in the Lankan capital and clashed with the police outside the home of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Police fired tear gas and water cannon at protesters trying to storm the residence of the President. Protesters are demanding the resignation of President Rajapaksa.