Police in Sri Lanka have arrested 45 after overnight violence as hundreds tried to storm president Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s house in Colombo to protest the economic crisis. Security forces fired tear gas and water cannons – AFP said police fired into the crowd (it is unclear if live ammunition was used) – and troops with assault rifles were seen. At least 10 people have been injured. Police said five of their personnel were also injured in clashes that resulted in vehicles set on fire and overturned. A curfew was imposed late Thursday night covering large parts of the capital district but was lifted early this morning.
“As of now 45 people have been arrested. Five policemen were injured while a police bus, a jeep and two motorcycles were burnt. The protesters had also caused damage to a police water cannon truck,” a senior official told PTI.Rajapaksa, who reports said was not at home, has slammed ‘extremist forces’ for the violence and has accused them of trying to de-stabilise the country.
