From Scarcity To Protests: Sri Lanka Decrees Curfew After Violent Demonstrations
At least five people died in clashes in the streets. Although the prime minister resigned, hundreds of protesters tried to enter his house, for which he had to be evacuated. In a matter of weeks, the tranquility has been definitively shattered in this small island country in South Asia. The serious shortage of food, fuel and medicine has generated enormous discontent among the population, which blames the powerful Rajapaksa clan for the crisis. On Tuesday, Sri Lankan authorities deployed thousands of soldiers and police to enforce a nationwide curfew after five people were killed in renewed protests. The violence, which also left nearly 200 injured , led to the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, but that did nothing to stem the outrage of protesters, who tried to force their way into his official residence. Heavily armed troops had to come to his rescue as protesters had breached the main gate of his residence in Colombo and were trying to enter the building where Ra...