Sri Lanka: Police Tear-Gas Protesters, over 660 Arrested for Defying Curfew, Social Media Restored after 15 Hours

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, April 3: Hundreds of students in Kandy defied a weekend curfew imposed by the government to protest against Sri Lanka’s worsening economic crisis even as the government was forced to restore access to social media sites and messaging apps about 15 hours after its early morning decision to block usage sparked wide criticism.

Over 660 people were arrested in Western Province for violating the curfew and trying to stage an anti-government rally to protest the country’s worst economic crisis. Opposition lawmakers, led by their leader Sajith Premadasa, had set off on a march towards the iconic Independence Square in Colombo, defying the curfew which was imposed by the government on Saturday, ahead of the planned protest for Sunday. The protest was organised by social media activists against the ongoing economic crisis and hardships heaped on people due to shortages of essentials. The country is facing severe shortages of food, fuel and other essentials, along with crippling power cuts.

Students protested outside the Peradeniya against the economic crisis. Cops used tear gas and water cannon to try and disperse the protesters, who are defying a weekend curfew imposed by the government.

Hundreds of people joined the march by Opposition leaders in capital Colombo before it was stopped near the home of opposition leader Sajith Premadasa by a large group of police and soldiers carrying assault rifles.

The Sri Lankan government on Saturday blocked access to all social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube, in its latest bid to quell protests against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Police fired tear gas at hundreds of protesting students in central Sri Lanka on Sunday, a federal lawmaker said, as soldiers manned checkpoints in the capital to enforce a curfew imposed to curb public outrage triggered by an economic crisis. Lakshman Kiriella, MP from the second-largest city, Kandy, said police used tear gas to scatter students protesting against the government near the University of Peradeniya. “These students have come out in defiance of the curfew and police have fired tear gas to disperse them,” said Kiriella, from the opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya party. The university is on the outskirts of Kandy, where the students had been held back by police, he said. Earlier, police arrested government critic Anurudda Bandara, for allegedly running a Facebook page called ‘Gota Go Home’. He was released on bail.

“The social media block is temporary and imposed due to special instructions given by the Defence Ministry, the country’s Telecommunications Regulatory Commission said. “It was imposed in the interests of the country and people to maintain calm,” Jayantha de Silva, the Commission’s Chairman, said.

Condemning the social media ban, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka said it was a “vital aspect” of the freedom of expression of people, and “as important as traditional media”. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka observed that the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) had “no authority” to ask service providers to restrict social media access, on the basis a “request from the Ministry of Defence.” Opposition members too slammed the government for “stifling” free expression.

Even a minister opposed the ban on social media. Appearing to challenge his own government, Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa, a nephew of the President son of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, said in a tweet that he would “never condone” the blocking of social media. “The availability of VPN, just like I’m using now, makes such bans completely useless. I urge the authorities to think more progressively and reconsider this decision,” said Namal, also the State Minister of Digital Technology.

The curfew and state of emergency in the near-bankrupt country came as social media posts called for protests on Sunday. “Do not be deterred by tear gas, very soon they will run out of dollars to re-stock,” said one post encouraging people to demonstrate even if police attempt to break up gatherings.

The tough laws allow the military to arrest and detain suspects for long periods without trial. In his defence, Rajapaksa has said the state of emergency was needed to protect public order and maintain essential supplies and services. “#GoHomeRajapaksas” and “#GotaGoHome” have been trending for days on Twitter and Facebook in the island nation, which is battling severe shortages of essentials, sharp price rises and crippling power cuts in its most painful downturn since independence from Britain in 1948.

The ongoing crisis – the result of economic mismanagement by successive governments – has been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit tourism and remittances. It has also marked a sharp turnaround in political support for Rajapaksa, who swept to power in 2019 promising stability. The government has said it is seeking a bailout from the International Monetary Fund and loans from India and China. New Delhi recently announced that it will extend a USD 1 billion line of credit to Colombo as part of its financial assistance to the country to deal with the economic crisis following a previous $500 billion line of credit (LoC) in February to help it purchase petroleum products.

Considering the economic crisis facing Sri Lanka, Air India on Sunday said it would reduce its India-Sri Lanka services from 16 flights per week currently to 13 flights per week from April 9 due to poor demand. 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.