Sri Lanka crisis: Nearly 45 arrested after night of violence, 10 injured

As many as 45 people have been arrested by Sri Lanka police after violence erupted overnight when hundreds tried to storm President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s house in Colombo to protest the ongoing economic crisis.

News agency AFP reported that security forces fired tear gas and water cannons and police even fired into the crowd, although it is unclear if live ammunition was used – and paramilitary troops with assault rifles were also seen.

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At least 10 people have been injured, one severely so after police fired tear gas to stop protesters attacking their bus.

Police said at least five of their personnel were also injured in clashes that resulted in police vehicles set on fire and another overturned.

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On late Thursday, a curfew was imposed covering large parts of the capital district but was lifted early this morning.

Speaking to PTI, a senior official said, “As of now 45 people have been arrested. Five policemen were injured while a police bus, a jeep and two motorcycles were burnt. The protesters had also caused damage to a police water cannon truck.”

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Rajapaksa, who was allegedly said to be not at home, has slammed ‘extremist forces’ for the violence and has accused them of trying to destabilise the country.

“The Thursday night protest was led by extremist forces calling for an Arab Spring to create instability in our country,” the president’s office said.

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Videos of violence shared on social media – and verified as genuine by AFP – showed men and women shouting ‘lunatic, lunatic go home’ and demanding that all members of the powerful Rajapaksa family – they hold the presidency, prime ministership, and key cabinet posts – step down.

The country has $51 billion in foreign debts, of which $4 billion is due this year; this includes a $1 billion international sovereign bond due in July. Sri Lanka has only $2.31 billion in reserves and current debt is 119 percent of GDP.