Sri Lankan protests

2022 - 4 - 1

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Amnesty International"

Sri Lanka: Authorities must respect peoples' right to protest (Amnesty International)

Responding to the recent arrests and use of unlawful force by Sri Lankan authorities against protestors gathered outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's ...

A curfew was also imposed in an attempt to control the situation. “The Sri Lankan authorities must not use unnecessary or excessive force to disperse protesters who are suffering the consequences of an economic crisis that is spiraling out of control. On 31 March, crowds gathered outside the President’s residence to agitate against the escalating economic crisis in the country that is depriving residents of basic necessities, including essential medicines, food, cooking gas and electricity.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Sri Lanka declares state of emergency as protests spread (Aljazeera.com)

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa invokes tough laws amid protests over Sri Lanka's deepening economic crisis.

“A number of protests were organised by opposition parties, but unlike before, ordinary Sri Lankans with no political affiliations have taken to the streets. They have expressed the need to rescind the emergency regulations. 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 more than 10 years ago. At least two protesters were wounded. Two government ministers said a major intelligence failure had placed the lives of the president and his wife in danger on Thursday. The emergency was declared for “protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community”, he said in a proclamation.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Sri Lanka president declares public emergency after protests ... (The Guardian)

Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has declared a nationwide public emergency, following violent protests over the country's worst economic crisis in ...

Tourism minister Prasanna Ranatunge warned such protests would harm economic prospects. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police and military on Thursday outside Rajapaksa’s residence in a suburb of the capital, Colombo. Rajapaksa said in a government gazette notification late on Friday that he took the decision in the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and essential services.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "CNN"

Sri Lankan President declares state of emergency following violent ... (CNN)

Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has declared a nationwide public emergency following violent protests outside his home over the country's worst ...

Sri Lanka has to repay about $4 billion in debt over the rest of this year, including a $1 billion international sovereign bond that matures in July.Demonstrators have held peaceful protests over the situation for weeks, with some calling on the President to resign, but Thursday's protests mark an escalation in the crisis. Sri Lankan President declares state of emergency following violent protests over economic crisisA man shouts during a protest outside the Sri Lankan President's private residence on the outskirts of Colombo on March 31, 2022. Soldiers are stationed at fuel stations to calm customers, who queue for hours in the searing heat to fill their tanks.Protesters run to take cover as police use tear gas during a protest outside the Sri Lankan President's house on March 31, 2022. Reuters reported that an official said at least two dozen police personnel were injured in the clashes, but declined to comment on the number of protesters who were hurt.A Sri Lankan policeman tries to disperse protesters outside the President's home on March 31, 2022. Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has declared a nationwide public emergency following violent protests outside his home over the country's worst economic crisis in decades. The declaration follows violent protests Thursday night, which saw furious demonstrators hurl bricks and set fire to a bus outside the President's private residence in the capital, Colombo, Reuters reported.Police used tear gas and water cannons to break up the protests, according to Reuters, as officers arrested dozens of people and imposed a curfew in parts of Colombo overnight, C. D. Wickramaratne, the inspector general of police, said in a statement.

Explore the last week