Police used tear gas and water cannons today to disperse the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) protesters in front of the World Trade Centre (WTC) while attempting to enter the Presidential Secretariat.
SLPP MPs Sanath Nishantha & Milan Jayatilake arrested
SLPP MP Sanath Nishantha has been arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department over violent incidents which took place at Galle Face and Colpetty on 9th May.
SLPP MP Milan Jayatilake was also arrested.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s special statement addressing the nation commenced, a short while ago.
He stated that last Thursday, he had accepted the Premiership of Sri Lanka and that it was not what he had asked for.
“I did not ask for that position. In the face of the crisis situation in the country, the President invited me to accept this position. At this moment, Sri Lanka’s economy is at a very dangerous position.” he said.
Sri Lanka's new prime minister has told the BBC an economic crisis that has brought misery and unrest is "going to get worse before it gets better".
The country is facing fuel shortages and soaring food prices, with some Sri Lankans forced to skip meals.
Anger over the government's handling of the crisis has led to violent protests.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, who returns for a sixth time as prime minister of Sri Lanka, promised families will get three meals a day in an attempt to diffuse rising tensions.
While calling for a full investigation into the attacks on peaceful protestors in Colombo, the US State Department has expressed its concern over the deployment of the military in Sri Lanka.
“Well, we’re concerned by the deployment of the military. We underscore, we stress that peaceful protesters should never be subject to violence or intimidation, whether that’s on the part of a military force or civilian unit,” US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said on Tuesday at the daily press briefing.
“More broadly, we’re deeply concerned by reports of escalating violence in Sri Lanka over the past few days. We condemn, as I said before, violence against peaceful protesters. We call for a full investigation, arrests, and prosecution of anyone instigating and involved in acts of violence. We are, as I said before, also closely monitoring the deployment of troops, something that is of concern to us, and we’re also closely following political developments and the situation on the ground in Sri Lanka after the resignation of the prime minister,” he said.
“We urge the government and political leaders to work quickly to ensure public safety and work together to identify and implement solutions to achieve long-term economic and political stability in Sri Lanka. The government must address the Sri Lankan people’s discontent over the economic crisis, including power, food, and medicine shortages, as well as their concerns about the political future of their country,” the spokesman added.
AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES
Sri Lanka issues ‘shoot-on-sight’ order to quell unrest
The government authorises military and police to arrest people without warrants a day after the deadly violence and the PM’s resignation.
A protest has broken out, outside the Trincomalee Naval Base as reports have said that former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and some of his family members have sought refuge there after the violent clashes which erupted yesterday.
A group of protestors has started a protest outside the Navy Camp demanding the former prime minister and his family be held accountable for the crisis and arrested.
Mahinda Rajapaksa left Temple Trees today morning after security forces cleared the protestors who had been protesting for hours against him and the government.
