Sri Lankan government has announced a 36-hour nation-wide curfew from 6 pm on Saturday amidst a spate of protests over the worst economic crisis in the island nation. The curfew was imposed hours after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a nationwide public emergency.
"Under the powers given to the president curfew has been imposed countrywide from 6 pm on Saturday to 6 am on Monday," the government's information department said. People won't be allowed to step out unless for essential services during the curfew.
Sri Lanka has been witnessing intense protests across the country over the government's poor handling of the ongoing economic crisis where people currently endure long hours of power outages and scarcity of essentials. On Thursday, violent protests were held even near the residence of Rajapaksa, leaving several people, including five policemen, injured.
In the gazette notification declaring emergency, the President said: “Whereas I am of opinion that by reason of a public emergency in Sri Lanka it is expedient to do so in the interests of public security the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community.”
Sri Lanka is currently experiencing its worst economic crisis in history. With long lines for fuel, cooking gas, essentials in short supply and long hours of power cuts the public has been suffering for weeks.
