Sri Lanka Protests Sri Lanka: Security forces raid main anti-government protest camp in Colombo
Colombo: Sri Lankan security forces on Thursday raided the main anti-government protest camp in Colombo city and even started pulling down tents.
Hundreds of troops and police commandos moved on the protesters outside the presidential offices, hours before they were due to leave the area, reports BBC.
A BBC video journalist was beaten by the army and one soldier snatched his phone and deleted videos, the British media reported.
The security forces removed some of tents and structures placed around the Presidential Secretariat, Daily Mirror reported.
The developments occurred just days after Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected as the President of the country amid protests.
US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung tweeted: " Deeply concerned about actions taken against protestors at Galle Face in the middle of the night. We urge restraint by authorities & immediate access to medical attention for those injured."
Deeply concerned about actions taken against protestors at Galle Face in the middle of the night. We urge restraint by authorities & immediate access to medical attention for those injured.
— Ambassador Julie Chung (@USAmbSL) July 22, 2022
Sri Lanka's ex-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa escaped the nation last week.
Wickremesinghe is the former prime minister of the country.
He has been a deeply unpopular leader with the public.
Sri Lanka is effectively bankrupt and facing acute shortages of food, fuel and other basic supplies and therefore, the country needs a stable government to continue stalled negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout package.
Rajapaksa's administration and family, which has ruled the country for nearly two decades, have been blamed for the current crisis.
He fled to the Maldives last week after crowds took over government buildings, demanding political leaders - including Wickremesinghe - step down.
Rajapaksa then flew to Singapore and officially resigned late on Thursday.
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