Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, May 14: Sri Lanka today relaxed a 12-hour statewide curfew as new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe sought to form a government following confrontations with anti-government groups that killed nine people.
After supporters of former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa attacked an anti-government demonstration camp in the commercial metropolis of Colombo, burning tents and battling with protestors, more than a month of mostly peaceful rallies against the government turned violent this week.
More least 300 people were hurt in the early clashes and retaliations against government officials.
From 6 a.m. (0030 GMT) today to 6 p.m., the authorities removed the curfew. On May 12 and 13, a 24-hour curfew set on May 9 was eased for a few hours to facilitate essential purchases.
After violence erupted on May 9, Mahinda Rajapaksa stepped down, putting his younger brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa in charge.
Sri Lanka is experiencing its biggest economic crisis since its 1948 independence from the United Kingdom, thanks to the pandemic, rising oil prices, and populist government tax cuts.
Foreign reserves are depleted, and widespread inflation and fuel shortages have prompted hundreds to go to the streets in protest.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka’s five-time prime minister, was re-elected late Thursday. Before parliament reconvenes on Tuesday, the 73-year-old was scheduled to begin choosing ministers.
Wickremesinghe’s United National Party has only one lawmaker in parliament, therefore forming a coalition government will be dependent on other parties. Wickremesinghe has vowed backing from the Rajapaksas’ Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.
The main opposition has declared it will not support him, but numerous smaller parties have said they will support the incoming prime minister’s economic plans.
