The president of Sri Lanka blames the violence on a "extremist" group
Key Takeaways:
- President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office blamed an unidentified 'extremist' group for inciting violence during the protest near the Jubilee Post in Nugegoda, Colombo.
- According to the statement, the police have also arrested several protesters, many of whom have been identified as organized extremists.
- Sri Lanka's economy has been in free fall since the COVID-19 pandemic, owing to the collapse of the tourism sector.
According to the Colombo Page, citing a press statement from the President's media division, the office of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa faulted an unidentified 'extremist' team for inciting violence throughout the protest near the Jubilee Post in Nugegoda, Colombo.
According to the statement, the mob marched towards the Sri Lankan President's residence at Mirihana Pangiriwatta, armed with iron clubs, sickles, and clubs, to provoke protesters and create a riot-like situation in the city.
According to the statement, the police have also arrested several people involved in the protest, many identified as organized extremists. It went on to say that they were the driving force behind the protests in Sri Lanka calling for an Arab Spring.
According to the statement, the detainees revealed that the riots were staged using social media to incite people and destabilize the country.
The protest was held on Thursday in response to the government's failure to address the island nation's current problems.
Protesters fought with police outside President Rajapaksa's residence in Mirihana. A bus and a jeep belonging to the Sri Lankan army were set on fire by protesters. In addition, several Colombo neighborhoods have been placed under curfew.
"A police curfew has been imposed with immediate effect within the Colombo North, Colombo South, Colombo Central, as well as Nugegoda Police Divisions until further notice," the Inspector General of Police said, according to the Daily Mirror.
At least ten people were injured due to the protest, including journalists.
Following clashes between protestors and police in Mirihana, six people were admitted to the Colombo National Hospital with injuries. According to the Daily Mirror, four more patients were admitted to the Colombo South Teaching Hospital in Kalubowila.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka's economy has been in free fall due to the collapse of the tourism sector.
Sri Lanka is currently experiencing a foreign exchange shortage, which has resulted in food, fuel, power, and gas shortages, and it has sought economic assistance from friendly countries.
Sri Lanka is experiencing daily power outages of at least ten hours. Since March 8, Sri Lanka's currency has been devalued by nearly SLR 90 against the US dollar.