Protests in Sri Lanka continue despite state of emergency

Calls for President Rajapaksa to step down grow louder as economic crisis worsens

- Rohini Mohan

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s declaration of a state of emergency has changed little on the ground – protesters are still demanding that he quit, a political stalemate continues, and fuel and food shortages have worsened.

Protesters blame the President and his brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, for the country’s worst economic crisis, inflation that has skyrocketed to 30 per cent, half-day brownouts and drained currency reserves.

As hundreds of university students laid siege to Sri Lanka’s Parliament at midnight on Friday, the police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse them. Incensed, even more people rushed there to protest.

Soon after, President Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency, effective from midnight, “in the interest of public security”, a statement from his office said.