The number of people injured in Saturday’s Sri Lankan protests reached 55, according to a spokesman for the Sri Lanka National Hospital. According to the statement, three people were wounded by bullets. Among those who needed treatment for his injuries was a parliamentarian from the east of the country, according to the announcement.
Protests in the South Asian country of 22 million people gathered around 100,000 people outside the residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, calling for his resignation.
A video broadcast by Sri Lankan TV channels and on social media shows protesters entering the residence after breaking through security cords placed by police. Images show protesters inside the building and hanging banners on the balcony, as well as swimming in the residence’s pool.
Rajapaksa left the house and was transferred elsewhere, security officials told CNN . It is unclear how many security officers are present at the site, according to the report.
Protesters also stormed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s official residence, known as the Temple Trees, according to local media reports.
Sri Lanka is suffering its worst financial crisis in recent history, leaving millions struggling to buy food, medicine and fuel.
A police curfew that was previously imposed on several divisions in Sri Lanka’s western province has been lifted. Several politicians and the Sri Lankan Bar Association referred to the curfew as “illegal”, saying that there were no cases of violence that warranted the imposition of the measure.
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in recent months, demanding the resignation of the country’s leaders over accusations of economic mismanagement.
In several major cities, including Colombo, lines to buy fuel lasted for hours, and residents sometimes clashed with the police and military while they waited.
Schools were suspended and fuel was limited to essential services. Patients cannot travel to hospitals due to fuel shortages, and food prices are rising.
Trains have been reduced in frequency, forcing commuters to squeeze into compartments and even sit precariously on top of them while commuting to work.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the country has entered into negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to revive the economy.
This week, he told parliament that negotiations with the IMF were “difficult” as they entered the discussion as a “failed” country rather than a developing country.
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m James Harper, a highly experienced and accomplished news writer for World Stock Market. I have been writing in the Politics section of the website for over five years, providing readers with up-to-date and insightful information about current events in politics. My work is widely read and respected by many industry professionals as well as laymen.
