Sri Lanka: President Rajapaksa restores state of emergency after another strike

Sri Lankan presidential candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in Colombo in 2019 (photo illustration).

AFP - ISHARA S. KODIKARA

Text by: RFI Follow

3 mins

For the second time in five weeks, the President of Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency on Friday, May 6.

The security forces thus enjoy extensive powers to deal with demonstrations hostile to the government, which continue against the backdrop of a serious economic crisis.

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Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency on Friday.

A spokesperson for the Sri Lankan presidency explained that this measure was aimed at “ 

” and “ 

”.

The state of emergency was to come into effect at midnight.

It grants sweeping powers to security forces, which can detain suspects for extended periods of time without judicial oversight.

It also authorizes the government to deploy soldiers to maintain order, in support of the police.

President Rajapaksa had already used it on April 1.

The state of emergency had expired on April 14.

►Also listen: Sri Lanka on the edge of the abyss

A clan in the hot seat

A general strike movement was organized this Friday by the unions.

Millions of workers walked out that day.

Public transport was at a standstill, the offices deserted.

Students notably tried to invade Parliament, demanding the resignation of the president.

The police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse them.

The first state of emergency had been declared the day after a demonstration during which thousands of protesters had tried to invade the residence of the head of state.

Since then, it has picked up again.

Thousands were gathered on Friday outside the presidential office and other residences of political figures, with small groups trying to enter.

Water cannons and tear gas to disperse students near the Parliament building in Colombo this Friday, May 6, 2022. AFP - ISHARA S. KODIKARA

Everything is missing in Sri Lanka

The police force, which has 85,000 men on this island of 22 million inhabitants, reinforced security on Friday around all the deputies of the ruling party.

In the eyes of the protesters, the president and his clan are responsible for the very serious post-Covid economic crisis that the country is going through.

The worst in the country since its independence in 1948.

The Sri Lankans lack everything: shortages of food, fuel, electricity, medicine fuel the anger of the population against the clan, accused of mismanagement.

With agencies

Vasan Ratnasingam

, a doctor at a children's hospital in Colombo, is spokesperson for the Government Medical Officers Association union, which represents 97% of doctors in Sir Lanka.

Our country is in a serious economic, political and social crisis.

It is very sad to see that hospitals are unable to transport their patients, because there is no more fuel.

Others practice surgical operations using flashlights or the lamps of their portables, since the power cuts are frequent and aggravate an already complicated situation.

We also lack first aid medicines and sanitary equipment.

We have already asked for help at the national level, but also from the international community – especially from the community of Sri Lankans, who live abroad.

Help is coming little by little, but it takes at least three months to receive everything we need.

We do not want to put patients in difficulty and will continue to treat them, this is why we are not taking part in the general strike.

We preferred to protest during our lunch break today.

People demand the resignation of the government and the renewal of parliament.

We call on the government to act on this demand.

SRI LANKA _Son Dr V. Ratnasingam: "People demand the resignation of the government"

Heike Schmidt

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• Sri Lanka

• Gotabaya Rajapaksa

• Economic crisis

• Social issues