Social media posts confirmed officers wearing riot gear flattening protest tents and arresting demonstrators outdoors the presidential workplaces at Galle Face, two days after the crisis-hit nation swore in a brand new chief.
Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was formally sworn in because the nation’s President on Wednesday and issued a “Gazette Extraordinary” calling on the armed forces to take care of public order.
Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa confirmed 9 males have been arrested and can seem in courtroom on Friday.
Protesters have been camped outdoors the Presidential workplace for months, demanding the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the nation within the early hours of July 13, and Wickremesinghe, a key Rajapksa ally.Both males presided over an financial disaster that has left the nation’s 22 million folks struggling to purchase gasoline, meals and fundamental requirements.
On Friday, Wickremesinghe swore in Dinesh Gunawardena, one other Rajapaksa ally, as prime minister. Wickremesinghe and Gunawardena have been classmates at Colombo’s elite Royal College.
A CNN workforce within the capital confirmed the state of affairs on the streets was calm following the morning raid, however a heavy army and police presence remained in and round the principle protest website.
All roads and lanes resulting in the world had been cordoned off and have been manned by safety forces.
Armed forces now guard the doorway to the Presidential Secretariat and seem to have full management of the constructing. Banners that have been hung from high of the secretariat have additionally been eliminated.
Some observers have raised considerations in regards to the degree of power used within the raid.
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka additionally stated in a press release that it “strongly and unreservedly” condemns “the usage of power and violence” by the authorities “in attacking protesters.”
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka additionally condemned the raid, calling it a “brutal and despicable assault on peaceable protesters” and a “whole violation of the basic rights of the folks.”
US and British diplomats additionally expressed concern.
“We urge restraint by authorities and quick entry to medical consideration for these injured,” US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung tweeted. The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Sarah Hulton she was “very involved” about studies of a clampdown on the protest website. “We have made clear the significance of the correct to peaceable protest,” she added.