Sri Lanka curfew lifted for Buddhist festival

Sri Lankan authorities lifted a nationwide curfew yesterday for a Buddhist festival, but celebrations were muted. A countrywide stay-home order has been in place for about a week since nine people died in mob violence, sparked by attacks on peaceful protesters by government loyalists. Demonstrators have for weeks demanded the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis. Vesak, a festival that celebrates Buddha’s birth and enlightenment, was marked in the country yesterday. The government declared a twoday holiday and announced it would lift the curfew for the day. But it cancelled a plan to celebrate the festival at a temple in the island’s south.