Sri Lanka’s military opened fire to quell unrest at a gasoline station, officials claimed Sunday, as enormous lines for petrol and diesel formed across the impoverished country.
Troops shot on Saturday night at Visuvamadu, 365 kilometers (228 miles) north of Colombo. It is when their guard post bombarded with stones, according to army spokesperson Nilantha Premaratne.
Premaratne told AFP that “a group of 20 to 30 individuals threw stones and damaged an army truck.”
The army opened fire for the first time to suppress protests due to the increasing economic crisis. According to police, four civilians and three troops injured in the incident.
When the pump ran out of gas, vehicles began to protest. It developed into a brawl with the military, according to police.
Economic crisis in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is experiencing its greatest economic crisis since independence. With the government unable to import basic necessities such as food, gasoline, and medicine.
The nation’s 22 million people have been suffering from acute shortages and lengthy lines for basic goods.
Meanwhile, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resisted calls to resign over mismanagement for months. Armed police and the army have been stationed at petrol pumps in Sri Lanka.
A driver shot dead by police, when conflict occurred over the distribution of rationed fuel and diesel in April, in the central town of Rambukkana.
Automobile conflicts erupted in three sites over the weekend, according to police. At least six constables injured, and seven motorists apprehended in one incident.
In an effort to limit commuting and save the poor country’s decreasing fuel supplies, the administration imposed a two-week shutdown of governmental institutions and schools.
Inflation is at an all-time high. The country has been plagued by long-term power outages. All of which have led to months of unrest.
According to the UN, four out of every five people in Sri Lanka have begun missing meals because they cannot afford to eat. It signals the onset of a “dire humanitarian catastrophe” with millions in need of assistance.
