Sri Lanka declares emergency amid protests over the economic crisis
By Sanjay Maurya
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has declared a public emergency amid protests over the country’s worst economic crisis. On April 1, Rajapaksa issued a special gazette notification declaring a state of emergency in Sri Lanka, effective April 1. Secretary to the President Gamini Senarath issued the Extraordinary Gazette Notification under the President’s direction.
The move came after violent protests outside Rajapaksa’s residence on Thursday, with hundreds of people demanding his resignation over his failure to solve the island nation’s worst economic crisis.
Sri Lanka
Country in South Asia
- President: Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Capitals: Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
- Currency: Sri Lankan rupee
- Population: 2.19 crores (2020) World Bank
As the agitation became more violent, several people were hurt and vehicles were set on fire. After pulling down a steel barricade near the president’s residence, police fired tear gas and water cannons at the protesters. Several people were arrested as a result of the incident, and a curfew was briefly imposed in most places of Colombo. Meanwhile, the number of people arrested as a result of the incident has grown to 54, according to the police. According to lawyers connecting with opposition parties, those arrested might face charges under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
Sri Lanka Crisis
Sri Lanka is experiencing a lack of vital items such as fuel and cooking gas due to a foreign exchange crisis. Power outages that can last up to 13 hours per day are common. According to a statement released by the presidential media office on Friday, an extremist group was behind the unrest near President Rajapaksa’s home in Mirihana.
Sri Lanka is currently experiencing a foreign exchange shortage, which has resulted in food, fuel, power, and gas shortages, and has sought economic assistance from friendly countries. At least 10-hour power outages occur every day across the country. Since March 8, Sri Lanka’s currency has been devalued by almost SLR 90 against the US dollar.
Sri Lanka is in the midst of the worst economic crisis in its history. The population has been suffering for weeks due to long queues for fuel, cooking gas, essentials in short supply, and long hours of power outages.
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