Sri Lanka declares a state of emergency as street protests spread amid an unprecedented economic crisis

The Indian Ocean island nation of twenty-two million is facing rolling power outages lasting as much as 13 hours a day as the federal government tries to secure currency to cover fuel imports.

Earlier within the evening, several dozen human rights defenders demonstrated within the capital at a busy intersection with handwritten posters and oil lamps.

Sri Lanka’s all-powerful Rajapaksas family under fire

“It’s time to leave Rajapaksas,” one poster said. “No more corruption, go home, Gota,” said one other – referring to the president.

In the highland town of Nuwara Eliya, activists blocked the opening of a flower exhibition organized by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s wife, Shiranthi, police said.

There were also anti-government protests within the southern cities of Galle, Matara and Moratuwa, and similar demonstrations were reported within the northern and central regions. The whole thing stopped traffic on fundamental roads.

On Thursday evening, during unrest in front of the president’s private home, a whole lot of individuals demanded his resignation.

People chanted “you are crazy, you are crazy, go home,” after which police used tear gas and water cannons.

The crowd turned violent, setting fire to 2 military buses, a police jeep, two patrol motorcycles and a three-wheeler. They also threw bricks on the officers.

At least two protesters were injured. Police said 53 protesters were arrested, but local media organizations reported that five photojournalists were also detained and tortured at an area police station, which the federal government intends to analyze.

The police and armed forces presence was strengthened on Friday.

As struggling Sri Lanka searches for money, its ties with China are growing stronger

Two government ministers said Thursday that a significant intelligence failure had put the lives of the president and his wife in peril.

“Both the president and his wife were at home when the protests were going on,” Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters in Colombo, denying earlier claims that they were absent on the time.

“We had information about the demonstration, but there was no indication that it might turn violent. This is a serious intelligence failure.”

Transport Minister Dilum Amunugama said “terrorists” were behind the unrest.

Sri Lanka is strengthening security after violent protests over the economic crisis

Rajapaksa’s office said Friday that protesters desired to trigger an “Arab Spring” – a reference to anti-government protests in response to corruption and economic stagnation that gripped the Middle East greater than a decade ago.

One of the president’s brothers, Mahinda, is the prime minister, the youngest, Basil, is the finance minister. His eldest brother and nephew also hold positions in the federal government.

Sri Lanka’s difficult situation has been worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has torpedoed tourism and remittances.

Many economists also say the crisis has been exacerbated by government mismanagement and years of gathered debt.

The latest official data released on Friday showed that inflation in Colombo reached 18.7 percent in March, the sixth consecutive monthly record. Food prices increased by a record 30.1%.

Colombo imposed a broad import ban in March 2020 in a bid to avoid wasting the foreign currency needed to repay nearly $7.0 billion this yr to service its $51 billion debt.

Diesel shortages since Thursday have sparked outrage in Sri Lanka in recent days, prompting protests against empty pumps.

The state power monopoly said it was enforcing a every day 13-hour power outage from Thursday – the longest on record – since it has no diesel fuel for generators.

Several state hospitals, combating shortages of life-saving drugs, have suspended routine surgeries.

The government has said it’s searching for help from the International Monetary Fund, while also asking for more loans from India and China.

Additional reporting by Reuters