Sri Lanka news: The shooting was directed at Sri Lanka

 

The shooting was directed at Sri Lanka

The shooting was directed at Sri Lanka

Shooting orders have been issued in Sri Lanka. This instruction has been given to suppress the protests with strong hands after getting power. A statement issued by the country's defense ministry on Tuesday evening said the armed forces had been instructed to "see only the bullets" to stop the violence.

Protests erupted after news broke that the newly resigned Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had taken refuge at the Trincomalee naval base on the east coast. According to the country's media, several thousand protesters have surrounded the naval base. In this situation, it is feared that the government decree of 'just shot' could increase the death toll. In fact, given the situation in the last 48 hours, some political observers are fearing another civil war in Sri Lanka.

On Tuesday morning, protesters surrounded Mahinda's official residence 'Temple Tree'. A large number of army personnel reached Rajpaks' residence and rescued him and his family. A senior army official told AFP that protesters had tried to break down the gate of the outgoing prime minister's residence. They also set fire to several vehicles. But before dawn, the outgoing prime minister was evacuated.

Attack on Rajapaksa's residence

Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Tuesday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck. They were trying to enter the main two-story building of the Temple Tree in Colombo. Rajapaksa and his close family members were staying there. At that time, a large number of army personnel reached the residence of Rajapaksa and his family rescued him. A top army official told AFP that protesters had tried to break down the gate of the outgoing prime minister's residence. But in the morning, Rajapaksa and his family were evacuated. But he did not say where he was taken. According to sources, Rajapaksa has taken refuge at the naval base at Trincomalee.

Earlier, the mob set fire to Rajapaksa's ancestral home in Hambantota.

This would not have happened if the situation had been properly controlled: Arjun Ranatunga

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Arjun Ranatunga said people were protesting peacefully. But how they were attacked was unexpected. Police have abused the protesters. Didn't try to calm the protesters. If the situation had been properly controlled, this would not have happened.

Colombo

The situation in the capital Colombo has been tense since the incident on Monday. Thousands of protesters took to the streets that day, ignoring the curfew. Shops, houses, and government offices were set on fire. The attack took place at the homes of pro-government MPs and leaders.

Meanwhile, protesters and Sri Lankan religious leaders have accused Rajapaksa's family of inciting protesters to attack. They said that the retaliatory attack was born for that attack.

Home fires and shootings

As the night wore on after a day-long protest on Monday, anti-government protesters began targeting pro-government and pro-government lawmakers.

Sri Lanka police said the protesters shot two men when a government MP Amarakirti Athakorala attacked the car on the outskirts of Colombo. One died.

He was then surrounded by anti-government protesters. The lawmaker later committed suicide with his pistol.

As the night wore on, Rajapaksa's houses, the houses of various ministers, and members of parliament were set on fire in different parts of the country.

Protesters set fire to the house of Minister Sanat Nishant. The Rajapaksa family's own home in Hambantota, which was converted into a controversial museum, was also set on fire.

As seen in various video footage on social media, people are rejoicing around the houses in flames.

The area around the president's official residence was also reportedly set on fire.

The BBC's Anbarasan Ethirajan reports that tensions are running high in Colombo. Roads to and from the country's airports have been blocked with sticks and rods.

The presence of police and security forces on those roads in normal times is not seen now.

Sri Lanka is facing the worst economic crisis since gaining independence from Britain in 1947. Ordinary people are outraged at the rising cost of living. The government has appealed for emergency financial assistance.

The government has blamed Covid for the economic woes, with the epidemic almost destroying the country's tourism trade, one of Sri Lanka's largest sources of foreign income.

But analysts say economic mismanagement is one of the reasons.

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