Sri Lanka’s president declared a state of emergency giving sweeping powers to security forces a day after hundreds tried to storm his house in anger over an unprecedented economic crisis.President Gotabaya Rajapaksa invoked the tough laws allowing the military to arrest and detain suspects for long periods without trial as demonstrations calling for his ouster spread across the South Asian nation.
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.
The nation of 22 million is facing severe shortages of essentials, sharp price rises and crippling power cuts in its most painful downturn since independence from Britain in 1948.Police reimposed a nighttime curfew Friday in the Western Province, which includes the capital Colombo, expanding the no-go zone from the previous night.
- Rajapaksa was quoted as saying in reports, was taken to ensure public security, public order and maintenance of supplies and essential services.
- The island nation faces one of the worst economic crises in its history, which started amid the pandemic as the tourism sector took a hit. On Thursday, protesters clashed outside the president’s residence with cops in clear signs that people are losing patience.
- Tear gas and water cannons were reportedly used as demonstrators chanted – “Go home Gota” .
- Sri Lanka is facing a debt of $4 billion while it has only $2.31 billion in reserves.
- Sri Lanka has signed a $1 billion credit line with India for importing essentials and it seeks another $1 billion from the neighbouring country.
- Among major lenders are the Asian Development Bank, Japan and China.
Earlier in the evening, dozens of rights activists carried handwritten placards and oil lamps in the capital while demonstrating at a busy intersection.”Time to quit Rajapaksas,” said one placard. “No more corruption, go home Gota,” said another — referring to the president.
In the highland town of Nuwara Eliya, activists blocked the opening of a flower exhibition by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s wife, Shiranthi, police said.The southern towns of Galle, Matara and Moratuwa also saw anti-government protests, and similar demonstrations were reported in the northern and central regions. All held up traffic on main roads.
