Sri Lanka Crisis | No Shoot-At-Sight Orders Issued During Protests: PM Wickremesinghe

On May 10, Sri Lankan defence ministry passed an order asking its Army, Air Force and Navy personnel to open fire on anyone looting public property or causing harm to others.

Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe

Source : Getty

New Delhi: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Thursday told the Parliament that no shoot-at-sight orders were given to the defence forces in order to suppress anti-government protests over the economic crisis in the country. The newly elected Prime Minister said that no such order was issued in writing, reported news agency PTI, citing local news portal the Colombo Gazette.

However, the Prime Minister said that police can open fire if there is a need, but a strict procedure has to be followed before making any such move.

He also said that no shoot-at-sight order was issued despite properties of members of Parliament being attacked last week by protesters, reported PTI.

On May 10, Sri Lankan defence ministry passed an order asking its Army, Air Force and Navy personnel to open fire on anyone looting public property or causing harm to others as protests turned violent in the island nation facing a severe economic crisis.

Mobs had gone on a rampage attacking properties of Rajapaksa family and their relatives. The attack on the properties of people close to former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa took place after pro-government supporters attacked protesters in the capital Colombo.

After violent protests broke out in Colombo and in several parts of the country, police and military was deployed to bring the situation under control. Attack on peaceful protesters at Galle Face, where the Presidential Secretariat is located had instigated the largescale violent protests across the country.

Over eight persons were killed in protests here. While 250 people were injured in the violence in Colombo and other parts of the country.