1 Dead, 12 Injured After Cops Open Fire on Protestors in Sri Lanka's Rambukkana

According to news agency AFP, the police shot at a crowd that had blockaded a highway in Rambukkana.

Sri Lankans shout anti-government slogans during a protest outside the presidents office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, April 11, 2022.

(Photo: AP/PTI)

One person died and 12 were were left wounded after police opened fire on protestors on Tuesday, 19 April, amid a clash in Sri Lanka's Rambukkana, as the country sees a prolonged agitation amid the financial crisis.

The police shot at a crowd that had blockaded a highway in Rambukkana, causing the first death in the protests, AFP reported. The crowd was protesting over fuel prices, which were hiked late on Monday night.

According to a report by Sri Lanka local newspaper Daily Mirror, police spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa confirmed that the police had fired shots after a clash between a group of protestors and police who were trying to disperse them.

The police spokesperson added that the protestors had tried to set fire to a three-wheeler, after which the police used tear gas canisters. However the protestors had allegedly hurled stones at the policemen after which the latter opened fire.

Several police officials were also reportedly injured in Tuesday's clash.

Protests Against 65% Hike in Petrol Prices

The protest was one among several such impulsive demonstrations held on Tuesday after petrol prices were increased by Sri Lanka's primary petrol retailer by 65 percent. Thousands of people on bikes protested against the move by blocking arterial roads with piles of burning tires.

Sri Lankan citizens have been protesting since 31 March amid a major financial crisis. Street protests erupted against President Rajapaksa and his brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, as the nation faced shortage of essential commodities including fuel, food, and medicine.

The country has been seeking $3-4 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to tide over the crisis and expand its fast-depleting reserves. A delegation from the government also visited Washington DC to deliberate on the terms of a potential bailout package from the IMF.

Dozens of lawmakers from Rajapaksa's party have publicly opposed the administration, so much so that a number of them occupied Opposition benches in the country's parliament on Tuesday.

The government also requested its citizens abroad to provide foreign exchange to help the country recover from its worst economic crisis since it became an independent nation in 1948.

Meanwhile, President Rajapaksa appointed a new Cabinet on Monday, 18 April.

(With inputs from AFP and Daily Mirror.)