Newsbytes
  • India
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Auto
  • Lifestyle
  • Inspirational
  • Career
  • Bengaluru
  • Delhi
  • Mumbai
  • Videos
  • Visual Stories
  • Reviews
  • Phone Reviews
  • Fitness Bands Reviews
  • Speakers Reviews
  • Find Cricket Statistics
Hindi
More
In the news
Mass Shooting
United States of America
Pakistan
Russia-Ukraine crisis
Monkeypox
Newsbytes
Hindi
Newsbytes
User Placeholder

Hi,

Logout


India
Business
World
Politics
Sports
Technology
Entertainment
Auto
Lifestyle
Inspirational
Career
Bengaluru
Delhi
Mumbai
Videos
Visual Stories
Reviews
Phone Reviews
Fitness Bands Reviews
Speakers Reviews
Find Cricket Statistics

More Links
  • Videos

Download Android App

Follow us on
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
 
Home / News / World News / Protests near Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's home; 45 arrested
World

Protests near Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's home; 45 arrested

Protests near Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's home; 45 arrested
Written by Pratyush Deep Kotoky
Apr 01, 2022, 11:23 am 3 min read
Protests near Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's home; 45 arrested
Sri Lanka has been witnessing the worst economic crisis since its independence.

Thousands of people descended on the streets of Sri Lankan capital Colombo near President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's house on Thursday night, demanding that he step down. The protesters also clashed with the police, and a paramilitary police unit, the Special Task Force, had to interfere to quell the demonstration. This came at a time when Sri Lanka is witnessing its worst economic crisis since independence.

Context
Why does this story matter?
  • The protests are a result of the terrible economic crisis the Lankan citizens have been suffering under for weeks.
  • There has been a critical shortage of food and essential items, fuel, and gas for weeks in the country.
  • The Lankan government is reportedly seeking a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to weather the crisis, and also sought loans from India and China.
Details
Government blames 'extremists' for protest; police arrests 45

Meanwhile, the government claimed an "extremist group" organized the Thursday protests, adding, "Majority of the perpetrators have been arrested." The police said, "45 people [were] arrested and five police officers injured including an ASP and being treated at hospitals (sic)." They further said a police bus, one police jeep, and two motorbikes were burnt and one water cannon truck was damaged during the protests.

Protest
What do we know about Thursday night's protest?

Reportedly, people started converging on the road near the house of President Rajapaksa by Thursday evening. However, the situation escalated when the police attempted to disperse the protesters, who were holding posters and shouting slogans against Rajapaksa. The mob then hurled bottles and stones at the cops, following which the police used tear gas and water cannons to control the mob.

Situation
How is the situation in Sri Lanka?

On Thursday, diesel reportedly was no longer available in the island country, leaving its 22 million people under a 13-hour power blackout and holding transport off the roads. The blackout had also affected the already strained state-run hospitals that had earlier stopped surgeries owing to the shortage of medicines. The blackout also hit mobile phone base stations, impacting the quality of calls.

Information
Colombo Stock Exchange limits trading hours

Meanwhile, power cuts also forced the Colombo Stock Exchange to limit trading by half to two hours. Also, offices have asked non-essential staff to stay home. Street lights were being turned off to save electricity, Power Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Reason
Why Sri Lanka is facing the economic crisis?

Sri Lanka's economic crisis stems from its massive foreign debts, dwindling foreign currency reserves, series of lockdowns, soaring inflation, fuel supply shortage, and devaluation of the currency. It, however, has its root in the Lankan government's move to ban imports in March 2020 to save foreign currency for its $51B foreign debt. This led to a widespread shortage of essential items and skyrocketing prices.

Share this timeline
Facebook
Whatsapp
Twitter
Linkedin
Pratyush Deep Kotoky
Pratyush Deep Kotoky
Twitter
Pratyush Deep Kotoky covers national and politics news at NewsBytes. His over three-year-long career involves reporting on sociopolitical issues across India, particularly the northeast region. His previous stints include 101Reporters, The Sunday Guardian, and Inshorts, and he has also written for Asia Times, Firstpost, and Newslaundry. He has a postgraduate degree in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi.
Latest
Sri Lanka
International Monetary Fund
Gotabaya Rajapaksa
China
Related
Latest
New COVID-19 sub-variant BA 2.75 detected in India: WHO
New COVID-19 sub-variant BA 2.75 detected in India: WHO India
Aliens could communicate with earthlings using quantum messages
Aliens could communicate with earthlings using quantum messages Technology
Amitabh Bachchan to do a cameo in Tiger Shroff's 'Ganapath'
Amitabh Bachchan to do a cameo in Tiger Shroff's 'Ganapath' Entertainment
Elon Musk quietly had twins with Neuralink executive last year?
Elon Musk quietly had twins with Neuralink executive last year? Business
TVS Ronin v/s Honda H'ness CB350: Which one is better?
TVS Ronin v/s Honda H'ness CB350: Which one is better? Auto
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka fuel crisis: 2-week 'work from home' for employees
Sri Lanka fuel crisis: 2-week 'work from home' for employees World
India not sending troops to Sri Lanka: Indian High Commission
India not sending troops to Sri Lanka: Indian High Commission India
Sri Lanka: Ex-PM Mahinda flees to naval base amid protests
Sri Lanka: Ex-PM Mahinda flees to naval base amid protests World
Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns amid violent clashes
Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns amid violent clashes World
Sri Lanka under state of emergency again as protests intensify
Sri Lanka under state of emergency again as protests intensify World
More News
International Monetary Fund
Debt-ridden Pakistan government asks its people to drink less tea
Debt-ridden Pakistan government asks its people to drink less tea World
Sitharaman assures Sri Lanka of all possible assistance from India
Sitharaman assures Sri Lanka of all possible assistance from India World
Sri Lanka crisis: India to provide additional $2 billion aid
Sri Lanka crisis: India to provide additional $2 billion aid India
Amid economic crisis, Sri Lanka defaults on $51 billion debt
Amid economic crisis, Sri Lanka defaults on $51 billion debt World
Explainer: What's behind Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis in decades?
Explainer: What's behind Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis in decades? World
More News
Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Sri Lanka crisis: Ex-President Maithripala Sirisena calls for fresh elections
Sri Lanka crisis: Ex-President Maithripala Sirisena calls for fresh elections World
Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to form interim government: Details here
Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to form interim government: Details here World
Sri Lanka economic crisis: President Rajapaksa revokes state of emergency
Sri Lanka economic crisis: President Rajapaksa revokes state of emergency World
Sri Lanka economic crisis: Ruling coalition loses majority in Parliament
Sri Lanka economic crisis: Ruling coalition loses majority in Parliament World
Sri Lanka economic crisis: Cabinet ministers resign as protests mount
Sri Lanka economic crisis: Cabinet ministers resign as protests mount World
More News
China
FBI, MI5 raise alarm over Chinese espionage in joint address
FBI, MI5 raise alarm over Chinese espionage in joint address World
China's Tianwen-1 orbiter has photographed the entire surface of Mars
China's Tianwen-1 orbiter has photographed the entire surface of Mars Technology
5 martial art forms to lose weight
5 martial art forms to lose weight Lifestyle
Pakistan: No textbooks for students amid severe paper crisis
Pakistan: No textbooks for students amid severe paper crisis World
India, China share common interests that outnumber differences: Chinese FM
India, China share common interests that outnumber differences: Chinese FM World
More News
Related
Sri Lanka under virtual lockdown over fuel scarcity amid crisis
Sri Lanka under virtual lockdown over fuel scarcity amid crisis World
Sri Lanka PM thanks India for support during 'difficult period'
Sri Lanka PM thanks India for support during 'difficult period' World
Lanka to sell national airline, print salary money amid crisis
Lanka to sell national airline, print salary money amid crisis World
Who is Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka's new PM amid crisis?
Who is Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka's new PM amid crisis? World
Next News Article
Next News Article

Love World news?

Subscribe to stay updated.

World Thumbnail
India News Business News World News Politics News Sports News Technology News Entertainment News Auto News Lifestyle News Inspirational News
Career News Bengaluru News Delhi News Mumbai News Mukesh Ambani Indian Premier League (IPL) Karnataka Samsung Xiaomi West Bengal
Bihar Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Haryana Narendra Modi Arvind Kejriwal Tamil Nadu Gujarat Yogi Adityanath YouTube
Instagram Hollywood News Uttar Pradesh Kerala Netflix Bollywood News Mamata Banerjee Maruti Suzuki Rahul Gandhi Elon Musk
Shah Rukh Khan Chelsea FC OPPO Akhilesh Yadav Indian Cricket Team Apple Manchester United Salman Khan Cryptocurrency OnePlus
Amitabh Bachchan ICC Women's World Cup Vivo India vs Sri Lanka
About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive IPL 2022 Schedule IPL 2022 Points Table Find Cricket Statistics
Follow us on
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube
All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2022