1 dead, 12 injured in Sri Lanka as police open fire at anti-government protesters

Colombo, April 19 (PTI): At least one person was killed and 12 others injured on Tuesday when police opened fire to disperse angry anti-government protestors in Sri Lanka’s southwestern region of Rambukkana, officials said.

The residents were protesting the latest fuel price hike when they clashed with the police.

Scores of protesters teemed the streets and public places of Rambukkana town on Monday. The demonstration went late into the night.

Police said the protesters blocked the railway track at Rambukkana. When they were asked to clear the rail line, they hurled stones at security personnel, police said.

Police Spokesperson Nihal Thalduwa said police issued warnings to the protestors to leave the area. However, the protestors attempted to set fire to a fuel bowser, as well as a three-wheeler causing damaging to property, Thalduwa was quoted as saying by News 1st channel.

Thalduwa said that the police had opened fire after initially using tear gas to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control.

One person was killed and 12 others injured in the firing, police said.

The injured were admitted to Kegalle hospital. Four of them are in critical condition, police said.

Sri Lanka is witnessing large-scale protests against the government’s handling of the debt-ridden economy – the worst-ever economic crisis in the country’s history.

Sri Lanka is grappling with unprecedented economic turmoil since independence from Britain in 1948. The crisis is caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which has meant that the country cannot afford to pay for imports of staple foods and fuel, leading to acute shortages and very high prices.

Protests demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his Sri Lanka Podujana (Peramuna)-led government have intensified as shortages continued and prices soared.

Meanwhile, Minister of Transport Dilum Amunugama said public bus fares have been hiked by 35 per cent.

The minimum bus fare has been raised to Rs 27 from Rs 20. The high fuel cost has also caused a hike in bread prices. The 450 gm loaf has been raised by Rs 30, a bakery association statement read.

The stock exchange has also been suspended for a week with effect from Monday amidst the economic turmoil.

Moody’s Investors Service on Tuesday downgraded Sri Lanka’s sovereign rating to Ca from Caa2 with a stable outlook, following a decision by the island to suspend debt payments.

Moody’s said the suspension would lead to will lead to a series of defaults with the first coupon payments for the government’s international bonds coming due today, 18 April 2022.

..Moody’s assesses that private sector creditor losses stemming from the eventual debt restructuring is likely to be material and exceed the limited levels of loss consistent with the previous Caa2 rating.

Last week, the Sri Lankan government said it would temporarily default on USD 35.5 billion in foreign debt as the pandemic and the war in Ukraine made it impossible to make payments to overseas creditors.