Status: 05/11/2022 1:25 p.m
Dead, injured, destroyed buildings: In the wake of the unrest in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Defense has ordered the security forces to shoot at people who damage other people’s property or endanger lives.
After the deadly riots in Sri Lanka, the authorities gave the order to shoot to quell further unrest. The Defense Ministry said security forces were instructed to shoot at anyone who looted public property or endangered human life. In addition, the government has sent armored vehicles and soldiers to the capital, Colombo. Armored trucks drove through the streets, soldiers set up checkpoints. The military was also deployed in other parts of the country.
Earlier on, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa called for an end to violence and acts of revenge against other citizens on Twitter. He wrote that every effort would be made to restore political stability through consensus so that the economic crisis could also be overcome in this way. This crisis had led to the ongoing protests.
Curfew already applies
A curfew had already been imposed on Monday, but people in many places resisted it. In two places, police fired into the air to disperse groups of people attempting to set fire to vehicles. Earlier, an angry crowd attacked and set fire to a vehicle in which the senior police officer in the capital, Colombo, was sitting. A luxury hotel believed to belong to a relative of resigning Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaska was also set on fire on Tuesday. According to the authorities, a total of 104 buildings and 60 vehicles were burned down.
So far at least eight dead, hundreds injured
The protests that have been going on for weeks in Sri Lanka, which has been shaken by a severe economic crisis had escalated violently on Monday. Supporters of Rajapaksa, who were driven to Colombo by bus, attacked anti-government demonstrators with sticks and clubs, and the police used tear gas and water cannons. The police initially imposed a curfew in Colombo, which was later extended to the whole country. At least eight people were killed and hundreds injured in the protests. According to the Ministry of Defence, a member of parliament from the ruling party and two police officers were among the eight dead.
The EU condemned the violence against civilians and called for calm. Brussels called on the Sri Lankan authorities to “launch an investigation into the events and hold accountable those who instigated or perpetrated the violence.”
In response to the serious riots were Rajapaksa and his entire cabinet resigned on Monday. On the other hand, the ex-prime minister’s brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, remains in office. He has far-reaching powers.
The largest opposition party called for the president’s resignation in view of the ongoing unrest. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa of the United Peoples’ Party declared in Colombo that he was prepared to take over the office of prime minister in an interim government. However, his party made it a condition that after the resignation of the previous head of government, the president should also resign from office.
Worst economic crisis in years
Sri Lanka is experiencing the worst economic crisis in decades. In the state with around 22 million inhabitants there is a shortage of fuel, food and medicine. The highly indebted country lacks the money for imports. Sri Lanka’s government is not repaying its high debts for the time being and wants to restructure them. The country is in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and hopes for further financial help from China and India.