Coup fears grip troubled Sri Lanka as troops and tanks patrol streets
The Sri Lankan authorities sent troops and armoured vehicles on to the streets of the capital, Colombo, yesterday, two days after attacks on peaceful protesters by pro-government mobs sparked violence across the country.
The security forces have been ordered to shoot those involved in the violence.
Sporadic acts of arson and vandalism continued despite a strict nationwide curfew that began on Monday evening.
Anti-government protesters have been demanding the resignations of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother, Mahinda, who stepped down as prime minister this week, over a debt crisis that has left Sri Lanka almost bankrupt
In the past few days, eight people have been killed and more than 200 injured in mob attacks during which cars and buildings were set alight.
Soldiers riding armoured vehicles have entered Colombo. Protesters defied the curfew to demonstrate opposite the president’s office. Videos posted on social media showed lines of military vehicles moving out of the capital, along with soldiers on motorbikes.
Checkpoints have been set up across the country.
Kamal Gunaratne of the Defence Ministry denied speculation of a military takeover.
“None of our officers has a desire to take over the government,” he said at a news conference held with army and navy chiefs.
“It has never happened in our country and it is not easy to do it here.”
President Rajapaksa is a former army officer and remains the country’s defence minister.
Mr Gunaratne said the army would return to its barracks when the security situation returned to normal.
The US State Department expressed concern about the use of the military.
Spokesman Ned Price said it was “closely monitoring the deployment of troops, something that is of concern to us”.
The departure of Mahinda Rajapaksa has created an administrative vacuum with no Cabinet, which dissolved automatically when he resigned.
Navy commander Nishantha Ulugetenne said the former prime minister was being protected at a naval base on the north-eastern coast.
After the prime minister resigned, he and his family were evacuated from his official residence through thousands of protesters trying to break into the heavily guarded colonial-era building.
The Indian embassy denied social media speculation that “certain political persons and their families have fled to India” and also rejected speculation that India was sending troops to Sri Lanka.