Rights groups urge Sri Lanka’s president to order security forces to cease use of force against protesters after troops and police cleared their main camp following months of demonstrations
A foreign exchange crisis triggered by the pandemic was exacerbated by mismanagement, critics say, with Sri Lankans left to suffer lengthy power blackouts and record-high inflation.
Two journalists and two lawyers were also attacked in the crackdown. Security forces arrested 11 people, including protesters and lawyers. Also condemning the attack, Amnesty International said “it is shameful that the new government resorted to such violent tactics within hours of coming to power”. Sri Lankans have taken to the streets for months to demand their top leaders step down to take responsibility for the economic chaos that has left the nation’s 22 million people struggling with shortages of essentials, including medicine, fuel and food.
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