COLOMBO: On 20th April Wednesday, police shootings during protests over Sri Lanka’s Worst economic crisis left one person dead and 13 people injured.
Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has promised a transparent and honest inquiry into these police shootings. These shootings by the security forces happened for the first time over the duration of protests.
Violence in protests
On Tuesday, a day before the shootings, the police officers were being treated in the hospital for minor injuries after clashes with the protesters. According to the police, the protesters in Rambukkana blocked railway tracks, roadways, ignored police warnings and also threw rocks at them.
Demonstrations were carried out against police shootings as well as rising fuel prices and the government’s failure to solve the worsened Sri Lankan economic crisis. The protests were expanded to other parts of Sri Lanka, where protesters blocked key roads. In some areas they burnt tires, creating dense clouds of smoke.
Protesters shouted slogans and displayed placards saying “Bow down to people’s verdict” and “Gota go home.”
Reaction of Leaders
In a tweet, Rajapaksa expresses his sorrow over the incident that occurred on Tuesday in Rambukkana, northeast of the capital, Colombo, says he is “Deeply saddened” and urged “all citizens to refrain from violence as they protest.”
According to public security minister Prasanna Ranatunga, the police had been patient all along but they need use of minimal force to keep the violence from escalating.
Responding to which, the opposition leader Sajith Premadasa asks, “Does killing a protester mean the use of minimal force?” He added, “What this murderous and terrorist government does today is the suppression of the people.”
Thousands of protesters blame Rajapaksa for Sri Lanka’s economic crisis. He has been adamant on not resigning.
Published by: Gargi Sharma
Edited by : Aaradhana Singh
