Sri Lanka Imposes Curfew As Protesters Try To Storm President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's House Over Economic Crisis

One man has been critically wounded as the protest which erupted over the government's handling of the country's worst economic crisis in decades turned violent

Protests in Colombo outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence (ANI Image)

New Delhi:  Hundreds of people trying to storm the private residence of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's in Colombo late on Thursday were dispersed by police using tear gas and water cannons after which an indefinite curfew was imposed in several parts of the main city Friday.

At least one man has been critically wounded as the protest which erupted over the government's handling of the country's worst economic crisis in decades turned violent, according to AFP report.

Latest developments in Sri Lankan crisis

An curfew had been imposed in four police divisions in the commercial capital, told Amal Edirimanne, a senior superintendent of police, according to Reuters. "People are shouting for the president and his family to step down," said one of the witnesses.

Some of the protesters’ covered in motorcycle helmets, broke into a wall and hurled bricks at police and even set fire to a bus on the road leading to Gotabaya's residence.

Rajapaksa was not at home during the agitation, but top military officials went into a huddle to discuss the crisis, as per the AFP report.

The area has been blocked for vehicles. The island nation with a population of 22 million people has been facing blackouts for up to 13 hours a day because the government does not have enough foreign exchange for fuel imports.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will hold discussions with Sri Lankan authorities on a possible loan programme in the coming days, according to spokesperson.

In order to save electricity, the government is forced to turn off street lights, said power minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi amid shortage of diesel that resulted in power cuts and halted trading on the main stock market.

The power cuts add to the pain of Sri Lankans already dealing with shortages of essentials and rocketing prices.

Retail inflation hit 18.7 per cent in March over the same period a year ago, the statistics department said on Thursday. Food inflation reached 30.2 per cent in March, partly driven by a currency devaluation and last year's ban on chemical fertilisers that was later reversed.