Sri Lanka lifts curfew after violent protests, 45 arrested
PBC News: Police in Sri Lanka’s capital lifted a curfew on Friday after protests in which around 45 people were arrested and several policemen were hurt near the home of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over his handling of an economic crisis.
Hundreds of people, rallied by unidentified social media activists, marched on Rajapaksa’s home demanding his resignation, setting two military buses and a police jeep ablaze and using bricks to attack officers.
Security forces fired into the crowd and used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the demonstrators. It was not immediately clear if they used live rounds or rubber bullets.
Rajapaksa was not at home during the melee, according to official sources, but top military officials went into a huddle to discuss the crisis.
A live broadcast of the demonstration by a private television network abruptly stopped after what journalists said was pressure from the government.
However, videos shared on social media showed men and women shouting “lunatic, lunatic go home” and demanding that all members of the powerful Rajapaksa family step down.
The president’s elder brother Mahinda serves as prime minister while the youngest — Basil — holds the finance portfolio. The eldest brother Chamal is agriculture minister while nephew Namal holds the cabinet post for sports.
