Sri Lankan authorities mobilized thousands of soldiers and police today to enforce a nationwide curfew after five people were killed in renewed protests against the country’s economic crisis.
The events, which injured nearly 200 people, led to the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, but this was not enough to quell the anger of protesters who tried to occupy the former head of government’s official residence.
Armed forces flocked to the scene after protesters managed to break through the main entrance of the Colombo residence and try to enter the building where Rajapaksa and his family took refuge.
“After the overnight operation, the former prime minister and his family were taken to safety by the military,” a security source told AFP. “At least 10 Molotov cocktails were thrown at the complex,” he said.
The power of the Rajapaksa clan is faltering after months of power outages and product shortages on this island of 22 million, which is facing the worst economic crisis since the country’s independence in 1948.
Namal, the eldest son of the current former prime minister, said the former head of government would not flee the country.
“My father is in a safe, secure place and is communicating with his family,” he told AFP. “There are many rumors that we will leave the country, but we will leave,” he said.
Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, is the leader of the clan that has dominated Sri Lanka’s political life for nearly two decades and was head of state from 2005 to 2015 after serving as prime minister in 2004.
Despite many calls for his resignation, his younger brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, remains in office and controls the security forces. Last Friday (6) declared a state of emergency to strengthen its own powers.
After weeks of mostly peaceful anti-government protests, violence broke out on the streets of Colombo yesterday as supporters of Mahinda Rajapaksa attacked opposition protesters.
“They attacked us, they attacked the press, they attacked women and children,” a witness told AFP.
Police used tear gas and water jets to disperse the crowd and immediately declared a curfew in the capital, which would later cover the entire country.
Officials announced that the measure will continue until tomorrow morning, as public and private buildings, commercial establishments and education centers are closed.
Burnt houses and vehicles
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet condemned the violence in Sri Lanka and urged authorities to prevent further incidents.
“I am deeply concerned about the escalation of violence in Sri Lanka after supporters of the Prime Minister attacked peaceful protesters in Colombo,” the former Chilean president said in a statement. Said.
Protesters opposed the curfew and sought revenge on pro-government militants. Dozens of Rajapaksa supporters’ homes, along with cars, buses and trucks, were set on fire in and around Colombo.
Mahinda Rajapaksa said she will step down to pave the way for the unity government. But it’s unclear whether the opposition will agree to include a new ruler, as the family has already refused to ally with any member of the clan.
With Sri Lanka’s political system, even in a union government, the president retains the power to appoint and dismiss ministers and judges and enjoy judicial immunity.
The economic collapse of the South Asian island began to be noticed after the Covid-19 pandemic severely impacted tourism revenues and remittances, causing the government to ban many imports to prevent currency flight.
External debt, estimated at US$51 billion (almost R$300 billion), forced the government to issue a moratorium on payments on April 12.
source: Noticias
