The Sri Lankan police violently dispersed hundreds of demonstrators a day after severely curtailing protest rights in response to months of unrest sparked by the island nation’s sharp economic downturn.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken a tough line against activists who forced his predecessor to flee the country and resign in July at the peak of the country’s crisis.
Officers in anti-riot gear blocked the student march hours after the government declared the city center a “high security zone,” outlawing protests in the vicinity, and on Saturday, police fired tear gas and water cannons to clear out the demonstrators who were demanding the release of fellow activists detained under anti-terrorism laws.
Wickremesinghe on Friday ordered a ban on all demonstrations and protests near key institutions, including his office and the homes of the military top brass, while Sri Lanka’s influential bar association condemned the ban and said it seriously undermined freedom of expression and assembly.
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