Sri Lanka Crisis: Security personnel dismantle protest camps in Colombo

World

Armed security guards had erected barriers outside Sri Lankan Presidential Secretariat in Colombo when a huge group of protesters confronted them.

The armed troops were stationed outside Sri Lankan Presidential Secretariat in an effort to disperse protesters who were demonstrating against the country’s newly elected president, Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Security forces allegedly attacked the anti-government demonstration camp in the capital early on Friday, according to protesters.

“We are once again being attacked by Ranil Wickremesinghe, who wants to destroy us, but we will never give up. We want to rid our nation of such divisive politics, “claimed a protester in the midst of a military onslaught.

Armed security forces are tearing down protestor tents in front of the Sri Lankan Presidential Secretariat.

The people of Sri Lanka, who are now experiencing great economic hardship, are still unsure about the country’s future as it struggles to get back on track following the election of a new President.

In the midst of this uncertainty, Sri Lankans from all across the nation are lined up at the passport office in Colombo to obtain new passports or have their current ones reissued in an effort to leave the conflict-torn nation.

Earlier on Thursday, Wickremesinghe took the oath of office as president of Sri Lanka in front of Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya. In a vote held in Parliament on Wednesday, he was chosen to serve as president.

Following the departure of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as president last week amid significant economic crisis in the nation, Wickremesinghe garnered 134 votes during the voting on Wednesday.

After enraged demonstrators invaded his palace during the extraordinary economic crisis, Rajapaksa fled to another country.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the former president of Sri Lanka, left island nation to Maldives before taking a flight to Singapore last week after his official mansion in Colombo was assaulted by tens of thousands of enraged demonstrators. When Rajapaksa left the country, he offered to resign.

Due to a scarcity of essential manufacturing inputs, a currency devaluation of 80% since March 2022, a lack of foreign reserves, and the nation’s failure to pay its international debt commitments, Sri Lanka’s economy is preparing for a rapid contraction.

Due to gasoline scarcity, hundreds of Sri Lankans continue to wait in line at gas stations every day. Additionally, many people are switching from driving automobiles and motorbikes to riding bicycles for everyday transportation.