Sri Lanka imposes curfew to curb anti-govt protests

The law enforcing authorities in Sri Lanka imposed a curfew after clashes between rival political camps broke out at Colombo.

Besides, 20 people were hurt during the clashes.

Months of blackouts and dire shortages of food, fuel and medicines have caused widespread suffering across the South Asian island nation and weeks of overwhelmingly peaceful anti-government protests, according to international media.

The loyalists of Rajapaksa, armed with sticks and clubs, attacked unarmed protesters - who have been camping outside of president’s Colombo office since April 9. .

Police fired tear gas and water cannon on the government supporters who breached police lines to smash tents and other structures set up by anti-government protesters.

Friday, the Lankan government imposed a state of emergency in a bid to control the anti-government protest. It also granted authorization to the military to arrest and detain people.

Sri Lanka’s crisis began after the coronavirus pandemic hammered vital income from tourism and remittances.

This left it short of foreign currency needed to pay off its debt, forcing the government to ban the imports of many goods.

This in turn has led to severe shortages, runaway inflation and lengthy power blackouts.