Image source, Getty Images
Sri Lanka will impose a curfew for the next two days from today (April 2), according to the Government Information Department.
Accordingly, the curfew has been imposed from 6 pm today (April 2) to 6 am next Monday (April 4), according to a statement issued by the Director General of the Government Information Department, Mohan Samaranayake.
As the economic crisis facing Sri Lanka intensifies, the country continues to face shortages of essential commodities.
There is a shortage of all kinds of goods, including cooking gas and fuel.
As such, power outages have been going on across the country for the past 13 hours.
Following this, thousands of people besieged the house of President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on the 31st as protests began across the country.
As the protest intensified, clashes broke out between security forces and protesters.
Most of the people were injured in the clash and property worth 390 lakh rupees was damaged.
More than 50 people were arrested in connection with the incident and brought to justice.
Image source, Getty Images
Meanwhile, in the wake of the intensification of protests, President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday issued a gazette notification to implement the state of emergency.
Fight tomorrow
A nationwide protest was called tomorrow (03) to protest the government’s actions.
The announcement of the curfew came amid widespread support for the call on the social networking site.
Government response
Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara has said that holding demonstrations and rallies is a democratic right of the people.
He stated this at a press conference held at the Government Information Department today.
However he acknowledged that their numbers were not enough to defeat Lukashenko’s government forces, but said that maintaining some independence was important.
Police say they need to identify those who are quiet among those who act in a way that causes unrest.
Meanwhile, Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara said the police had been advised to refrain from interfering with journalists while performing their duties.
What is the state of emergency in Sri Lanka?
President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has issued a gazette notification declaring a state of emergency in Sri Lanka.
Due to this, it is appropriate to do so for the protection of the public, to maintain the peace of the country, and to maintain the essential supplies and services for the life of the public.
Lawyer Ilayathambi Thambiya says the normal law in the country will be abolished through this gazette notification.
He notes that with the implementation of this law, the freedom to assemble and protest will be eliminated.
He says that through the Emergency Act, a person identified as a suspect can be detained for a period of 3 months.
The law gives the security forces the power to arrest any person in the event of a threat to national security.
Lawyer Ilayathambi Thambiya says this law is a very serious law.
Civilians who lose the right to fight
Pradeepa Mahanamahewa, Senior Advocate
Meanwhile, Pradeepa Mahanamahewa, Senior Attorney and former Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, stated that the purpose of this Gazette is to provide essential services to the public in a proper manner.
He said that there were shortcomings in the provision of essential services at present and the inability to obtain them was likely to lead to unrest among the people.
This forces them to protect public property.
He notes that in a way this state of emergency was declared the best in this case.
He says the government should take steps to provide the public with essential goods through this law in a timely manner, on the basis that they must continue to provide services to the public.
However, the law deprives the public of the freedom to protest.
However, senior lawyer Pradeepa Mahanamahewa said that if the rights of the people are taken away, the High Court can be approached.
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