The president Gotabaya Rajapaksa Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency following strikes and anti-government protests in recent hours, as popular anger over the worst economic crisis the country has been facing for decades.
According to a government statement, the president made the decision in favor of public safety.
Officers used tear gas to repel protesters who had gathered outside parliament, in the latter from a series of protest events on shortages in imported food, fuel and medicines.
Sri Lanka has been hit hard by the pandemic, rising oil prices and tax cuts, with its foreign exchange reserves shrinking to just $ 50 million, the country’s finance minister announced this week.
Hundreds of students and other protesters gathered on the main road to parliament, where they began a sit-in protest on Thursday. Some have hung their underwear at roadblocks in an attempt to offend the political leadership.
«We are here because we have given up on the lies that politicians tell us. We want the president and this government to go home“, Said Pournima Muhadiram, a 42-year-old advertiser.
Thousands of shops and schools remained closed during the day as public and private sector workers took part in the strike.
The main train station in the commercial capital Colombo was closed from the morning and only public buses operated at the neighboring terminal.
Health workers also took part in the strike, but emergency services continued to operate.
Opposition leader Sajit Premantasa told parliament today that the opposition wanted to table a motion of censure next week against the president and the government.
Rajapaksa has refused to resign and has repeatedly suggested forming a national unity government headed by him.
On April 1, the president of Sri Lanka again declared a state of emergency, which finally came five days later.
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