• Protestors participate in an anti-government demonstration in Colombo on August 9, 2022. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP)
    Protestors participate in an anti-government demonstration in Colombo on August 9, 2022. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP)
  • Hundreds of Sri Lankans protest against a government clampdown on peaceful demonstrations over the country’s worst economic crisis. AFP
    Hundreds of Sri Lankans protest against a government clampdown on peaceful demonstrations over the country’s worst economic crisis. AFP
  • Protesters marched to the Independence Square in Colombo and demanded the government withdraws the use of emergency laws against them. AFP
    Protesters marched to the Independence Square in Colombo and demanded the government withdraws the use of emergency laws against them. AFP
  • The demonstrators, led by religious and trade union leaders, urged an end to the arrests of peaceful protesters, the dissolution of parliament and basic supplies for those in need. AFP
    The demonstrators, led by religious and trade union leaders, urged an end to the arrests of peaceful protesters, the dissolution of parliament and basic supplies for those in need. AFP
  • Religious leaders attending the protest march in Colombo. EPA
    Religious leaders attending the protest march in Colombo. EPA
  • Protests have been taking place for more than four months. EPA
    Protests have been taking place for more than four months. EPA
  • A buddhist monk listens to a protester's speech at an anti-government rally. Reuters
    A buddhist monk listens to a protester's speech at an anti-government rally. Reuters
  • The banner reads 'Stop State Repression'. EPA
    The banner reads 'Stop State Repression'. EPA
  • People watch as the protesters march. Reuters
    People watch as the protesters march. Reuters
  • Trade union and civil society activists shout slogans denouncing President Ranil Wickremesinghe. AP Photo
    Trade union and civil society activists shout slogans denouncing President Ranil Wickremesinghe. AP Photo

World

Asia

Sri Lankans protest over government clampdown

Protesters march in Colombo to demand the end of emergency laws

The National

August 09, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Hundreds of Sri Lankans protested on Tuesday against a government clampdown on peaceful demonstrations over the country’s worst economic crisis.

Protesters marched to the Independence Square in Colombo and demanded the government withdraws the use of emergency laws against them.

The demonstrators, led by religious and trade union leaders, urged an end to the arrests of peaceful protesters, the dissolution of Parliament and basic supplies for those in need.

It is the latest in four months of street protests in the crisis-hit country.

Last month, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to Singapore and resigned after demonstrators stormed his official home and occupied several vital government buildings.

His brother, Mahinda, resigned as prime minister in May, with four other family members quitting as ministers before him.

Protesters accuse the Rajapaksa family of plunging the country into the crisis through mismanagement and corruption.

The former prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, was elected by Parliament to complete Mr Rajapaksa’s five-year term until 2024. However, many of the protesters say he was backed by lawmakers who are still loyal to the Rajapaksas to protect the former ruling family from being held accountable.

Several groups had initially called a major rally to force Mr Wickremesinghe out of office, but a lack of support forced them to hold smaller protests. They called for a temporary government, the dissolution of Parliament and fresh elections.

Sri Lankan hospitals struggle during economic crisis - in pictures

  • A nurse checks on a premature baby at the Castle Street Hospital for Women in Colombo. Lahiru Harshana / The National
    A nurse checks on a premature baby at the Castle Street Hospital for Women in Colombo. Lahiru Harshana / The National
  • Consultant Dr Saman Kumara with nursing staff at the Castle Street Hospital for Women in Colombo. Lahiru Harshana / The National
    Consultant Dr Saman Kumara with nursing staff at the Castle Street Hospital for Women in Colombo. Lahiru Harshana / The National
  • Dr Saman Kumara, a consultant neonatologist. Lahiru Harshana / The National
    Dr Saman Kumara, a consultant neonatologist. Lahiru Harshana / The National
  • Dr Saman Kumara says life saving equipment to monitor the health of infants and save babies from respiratory distress is required in Sri Lanka. Lahiru Harshana / The National
    Dr Saman Kumara says life saving equipment to monitor the health of infants and save babies from respiratory distress is required in Sri Lanka. Lahiru Harshana / The National
  • A nurse treats a sick child in Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo. AFP
    A nurse treats a sick child in Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo. AFP
  • Sri Lanka expatriates in the UAE send vital medical supplies back home to a nation reeling from a foreign exchange crisis. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Sri Lanka expatriates in the UAE send vital medical supplies back home to a nation reeling from a foreign exchange crisis. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Medical supplies needed urgently by hospitals in Sri Lanka are packed in a warehouse in Dubai's Ras Al Khor area. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Medical supplies needed urgently by hospitals in Sri Lanka are packed in a warehouse in Dubai's Ras Al Khor area. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A mother with her child waits for medicines at the pharmacy in Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo. AFP
    A mother with her child waits for medicines at the pharmacy in Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo. AFP
  • A mother sits beside her child in Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children. AFP
    A mother sits beside her child in Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children. AFP
  • A mother with her child speaks to a nurse in Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children. AFP
    A mother with her child speaks to a nurse in Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children. AFP
  • A pharmacist attends to a man in Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children. AFP
    A pharmacist attends to a man in Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children. AFP
  • A health worker packs medicines in the hospital. AFP
    A health worker packs medicines in the hospital. AFP
  • People queue to get medicine from the outpatient department during strike action at the National hospital in Colombo. EPA
    People queue to get medicine from the outpatient department during strike action at the National hospital in Colombo. EPA
  • Patients wait to receive drugs at Colombo South Teaching Hospital in Colombo. Getty Images
    Patients wait to receive drugs at Colombo South Teaching Hospital in Colombo. Getty Images
  • A man stands outside a pharmacy in Colombo. Getty Images
    A man stands outside a pharmacy in Colombo. Getty Images
  • Pharmacists arrange drugs at Colombo South Teaching Hospital. Getty Images
    Pharmacists arrange drugs at Colombo South Teaching Hospital. Getty Images
  • A patient stands with his mother outside Colombo South Teaching Hospital in Colombo. Getty Images
    A patient stands with his mother outside Colombo South Teaching Hospital in Colombo. Getty Images
  • A deserted outpatient department during the island-wide strike at the National hospital in Colombo. EPA
    A deserted outpatient department during the island-wide strike at the National hospital in Colombo. EPA
  • Mudiyansege Chandrawathi, a cancer patient, has a drink after attending a clinic at the national cancer hospital in Maharagama, a suburb of Colombo. AP Photo
    Mudiyansege Chandrawathi, a cancer patient, has a drink after attending a clinic at the national cancer hospital in Maharagama, a suburb of Colombo. AP Photo
  • A hospital worker carries a tray of drugs at a government-run hospital in Colombo. AP Photo
    A hospital worker carries a tray of drugs at a government-run hospital in Colombo. AP Photo

Since his election, Mr Wickremesinghe has authorised the military and police to violently dismantle protest camps and arrest those they identified to have trespassed the presidential palace and other state buildings.

Mr Wickremesinghe on Tuesday visited the army headquarters and thanked soldiers who protected Parliament when protesters tried to enter last month.

“If we had lost Parliament, it would have created a big problem … we would have lost the governance system that we know,” Mr Wickremesinghe said.

He said it was up to lawmakers to win over the confidence of the people.

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Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski

Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

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Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)

Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

Best National Team of the Year: Italy 

Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello

Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)

Player Career Award: Ronaldinho

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Generation Start-up: Awok company profile

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French business

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While you're here
Essentials

The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.

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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17

At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253

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German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
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Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

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Updated: August 09, 2022, 5:10 PM
Sri LankaAsia