As Ranil takes over, security forces raid main protest camp

Sri Lankan military forces cracked down on Gota Go Gama protest site and nine persons were reporedly arrested from the main anti-government protest site.

The Al Jazeera reported the military in Sri Lanka have taken control of the presidential secretariat. Soldiers destroyed tents at the adjacent Gota Go Gama protest site, arrested several protest leaders and cordoned off the area together with about 100 protesters, AL Jazeera reported.

The security forces raided the Gota Go Gama site soon after protesters withdrew from the camp in front of Temple Trees, the prime minister’s official residence. The protesters had earlier announced their intention to withdraw from the presidential secretariat on July 22.

According to reports, police arrested nine people after the raids. Reuters reported media footage from the site showed soldiers armed with assault rifles trying to tear down the camp as dozens of police watched on. As daylight broke, dozens of troops in riot gear marched through the area and rows of protest tents that stood on both sides of the main road that passes in front of the president's secretariat completely cleared out.

At least 50 protesters were injured, the organisers said, including some journalists who were beaten by security forces, Reuters reported. Hospital sources said two were hospitalised.

"It was a systematic and premeditated attack," protest organiser Chameera Dedduwage told Reuters. "They actually brutally attacked people. What has happened is a very cheap show of power."