After the deadly riots in Sri Lanka, the authorities gave the order to shoot to quell further unrest. Security forces have been instructed to shoot at anyone who loots public property or endangers human life, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. A curfew had already been imposed the day before, but people in many places resisted it.
In two places, police fired into the air to disperse groups of people attempting to set fire to vehicles. Earlier, an angry crowd attacked and set fire to a vehicle in which the senior police officer in the capital, Colombo, was sitting. A luxury hotel believed to belong to a relative of resigning Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaska was also set on fire on Tuesday.
curfew
The protests, which had been going on for weeks in Sri Lanka, which was shaken by a severe economic crisis, escalated violently on Monday. Rajapaksa supporters who drove to Colombo in buses attacked anti-government demonstrators with sticks and clubs, and the police used tear gas and water cannons.
The police initially imposed a curfew in Colombo, which was later extended to the whole country and is expected to last until Wednesday. At least eight people were killed and hundreds injured in the protests.
EU condemned violence
In response to the serious riots, Rajapaksa and his entire cabinet resigned on Monday. On the other hand, the ex-prime minister’s brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, remains in office. He has far-reaching powers.
The EU condemned the violence against civilians and called for calm. Brussels called on the Sri Lankan authorities “to launch an investigation into the events and to hold accountable those who instigated or perpetrated the violence”.