Sri Lanka crisis: shoot-on-sight order issued as troops deployed in Colombo – Mobs burn more than 50 houses belonging to politicians – Ex-PM flees to naval base
By Hannah Ellis-Petersen
11 May 2022
(The Guardian) – Troops and armoured vehicles have been deployed across the city of Colombo and security officials given orders to shoot on sight anyone deemed to be participating in violence as anti-government protests continued to rock Sri Lanka.
The crisis turned volatile earlier this week after pro-government supporters began attacking a camp of peaceful demonstrators who had been protesting against the government and the devastating economic crisis that has engulfed the island of 22 million people.
As footage emerged on Wednesday of armoured military vehicles in Colombo and military checkpoints being set up across the country , fears grew that the path was being laid for a military takeover.
A nationwide curfew has done nothing to stop protesters gathering to demand the resignation of the president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who stands accused of economic mismanagement and corruption that has left it in its worst financial crisis since independence.
Security officials confirmed they had been ordered to use “live ammunition” on those found to be involved in violence or vandalism, alleging that outbreaks of violence were a “coordinated” campaign.
Eight people have been killed and more than 200 injured in the violence that has ensued across the country since Monday’s attacks by pro-government supporters. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the brother of the president, who resigned as prime minister on Monday following mounting public pressure, had to be evacuated at dawn on Tuesday from his official residence in Colombo after protesters tried to storm the building. He is currently sheltering at a naval base in the north-eastern city of Trincomalee.
More than 100 buildings were set alight, including the homes of 41 pro-Rajapaksa politicians and a luxury hotel said to be owned by the Rajapaksas, as well as several buses that had been rumoured to be used as transport for pro-Rajapaksa supporters. [more]
Sri Lanka unrest: shoot on sight order issued as troops deployed in Colombo
Sri Lanka crisis: Ex-PM flees to naval base as arson attacks spread
By Aparna Alluri and Simon Fraser
11 May 2022
(BBC News) – Security forces are out in force across Sri Lanka with orders to shoot looters on sight amid continuing protests at the government’s handling of a devastating economic crisis.
Despite a nationwide curfew, there was a second night of arson attacks.
Shops near Colombo were torched, as well as a resort owned by former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son.
The ex-PM is holed up in a naval base after resigning on Monday when fury erupted over fuel and food shortages.
Sri Lankans are desperate as basic items run out or become unaffordable.
“We have come to the protest site despite the curfew,” one protester, Chandrasekaran, told BBC Tamil in Colombo. “We are suffering even now. There is no kerosene, no petrol, no diesel, and no power.”
At least nine people have been killed and about 200 injured in unrest since Monday.
It began when government supporters attacked protesters who are demanding that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the former PM’s younger brother, should leave office.
Opposition politicians have warned the violence could have been staged to give the army a pretext to take power. Rumours of a possible coup have been fuelled by the presence of large numbers of troops with armoured vehicles on the streets.
But the military have denied any such move is planned.
“When there is a dangerous situation in the country, powers are given to the military to deal with it,” Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne told a news conference.
“Don’t ever think that we are trying to capture power. The military has no such intentions.”
Sri Lanka had already seen weeks of protests over its dire financial situation, which has caused the Sri Lankan rupee to plunge, provoking severe shortages of basic items such as food, fuel and medical supplies.
The worst trouble overnight was in the north of the capital, Colombo, where rival groups set fire to shops in the town of Negombo.
On Monday night, mobs burned more than 50 houses belonging to politicians, while a controversial museum dedicated to the Rajapaksa family was also razed to the ground in their traditional heartland, Hambantota, in the country’s south. [more]
Sri Lanka crisis: Ex-PM flees to naval base as arson attacks spread
Sri Lanka protesters burn politicians’ homes as country plunges further into chaos
By Iqbal Athas and Rhea Mogul
11 May 2022
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNN) – Protesters in Sri Lanka have burned down homes belonging to 38 politicians as the crisis-hit country plunged further into chaos, with the government ordering troops to “shoot on sight.”
Police in the island nation said Tuesday that in addition to the destroyed homes, 75 others have been damaged as angry Sri Lankans continue to defy a nationwide curfew to protest against what they say is the government’s mishandling of the country’s worst economic crisis since 1948.
The Ministry of Defense on Tuesday ordered troops to shoot anyone found damaging state property or assaulting officials, after violence left at least nine people dead since Monday; it is unclear if all of the deaths were directly related to the protests. More than 200 people have been injured.
The nation of 22 million is grappling with a devastating economic crisis, with prices of everyday goods soaring, and there have been widespread electricity shortages for weeks. Since March, thousands of anti-government protesters have taken to the streets, demanding that the government resign. [more]
Sri Lanka protesters burn politicians’ homes as country plunges further into chaos
