Protests have resumed in Sri Lanka after a period of relative calm, following the government’s lifting of a state of emergency on May 21.
Hundreds of students marched in Colombo on Thursday, with police firing teargas and water cannon to disperse the crowds. A number of people were arrested by the police, who carried riot shields and batons.
A police official told AFP that Wasantha Mudalige, leader of the Inter-University Student Federation, was among six people taken into custody.
In March, at least nine people were killed and hundreds injured when mass protests gripped the country, after the government ran out of funds to pay for vital imports, while prices for essential goods soared.
Demonstrators, furious with collapsing services and fuel shortages, clashed with security forces, taking over the presidential palace and burning down the prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s house, forcing him and president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country and relinquish power.
On 21 July, Parliament elected opposition politician Ranil Wickremesinghe as the new president who would rule for what remained of president Rajapaksa’s term. Mr Wickremesinghe has since attempted a national dialogue, reaching out to protesters to discuss their grievances.
Police said they used minimum force in Thursday's protest and only arrested those who attacked officers or damaged state property.
Mr Wickremesinghe announced this week that his government would not renew the state of emergency it imposed last month, after hundreds of thousands of people stormed the home of his predecessor.
The measure had been widely criticised by rights groups as a draconian limit on freedom.
Student groups have since tried to drum up support for protests against Mr Wickremesinghe, but the response has so far been muted. But a long economic recovery awaits the nation of 22 million people.
The country defaulted on its $51 billion foreign debt in mid-April and is in talks with the International Monetary Fund over a bailout.
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Schedule for show courts
Centre Court - from 4pm UAE time
Johanna Konta (6) v Donna Vekic
Andy Murray (1) v Dustin Brown
Rafael Nadal (4) v Donald Young
Court 1 - from 4pm UAE time
Kei Nishikori (9) v Sergiy Stakhovsky
Qiang Wang v Venus Williams (10)
Beatriz Haddad Maia v Simona Halep (2)
Court 2 - from 2.30pm
Heather Watson v Anastasija Sevastova (18)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12) v Simone Bolelli
Florian Mayer v Marin Cilic (7)