SL: President declares emergency
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday declared a state of emergency giving security forces sweeping powers for the second time in five weeks to deal with escalating anti-government protests.
A spokesman for the president said he invoked the tough laws to “ensure public order” after trade unions staged a nationwide strike on Friday demanding his resignation over a worsening economic crisis.
Earlier, Sri Lankan police used tear gas and a water cannon on Friday to disperse student protesters who were camped outside parliament criticising lawmakers for not ousting President Rajapaksa and his government over the country’s worst economic crisis in decades.
The student-led protest began on Thursday after a government-backed deputy speaker was elected in parliament by a comfortable margin in what was seen a key victory for the governing coalition.
Separately, protesters have been occupying the entrance to the president’s office in the capital, Colombo, for 28 days demanding Rajapaksa and his powerful ruling family quit.
Shops, offices and schools were closed across the country on Friday and transport came to a near standstill amid widespread demonstrations against the government.
Opposition lawmakers raised objections in parliament over the use of tear gas against the students, after which the speaker adjourned the session until May 17.
Students withdrew from the protest site, warning that they will return when parliament resumes and demanding that Rajapaksa resign before then.
Some protesters blocked exits through which the lawmakers tried to leave parliament and questioned them about what they had achieved for the people in many meetings.
Factories, banks and government offices were also closed on Friday, with employees demonstrating in front of them. Black flags were displayed at some shops in response to a call from trade unions and other organisations, and many protesters wore black T-shirts.
Protesters also hung undergarments by a road leading to parliament and chanted, “This is all we are left with!”
“People have been telling this government to go home for a month,” student leader Wasantha Mudalige said at the Parliament protest.