Sri Lanka: Dozens hospitalised in violent clashes between pro and anti-government supporters

Sri Lankan authorities imposed a nationwide curfew and deployed the army on Monday after dozens of people were hospitalised in the biggest clashes in weeks of anti-government protests.

At least 78 people were wounded in the violence, according to reports by AFP. 

Sri Lankans have suffered months of blackouts and dire shortages of food, fuel and medicines in the island's worst economic crisis since independence, sparking weeks of overwhelmingly peaceful anti-government protests.

But on Monday clashes erupted in Colombo between opponents and supporters of the family of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and brother Mahinda, the prime minister.

Police fired tear gas and water cannon and declared an immediate curfew in Colombo which was later widened to include the entire South Asian island nation of 22 million people.

Officials said that the army riot squad was called in to reinforce police. Soldiers have been deployed throughout the crisis to protect deliveries of fuel and other essentials but until now not to prevent clashes.

Rajapaksa loyalists armed with sticks and clubs attacked unarmed protesters camping outside the president's office at the sea-front Galle Face promenade in downtown Colombo since April 9, AFP reporters said.

The violence began after several thousand supporters of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, brought in buses from rural areas, had poured out of his nearby official residence.

Rajapaksa addressed some 3,000 supporters at his house and pledged he would "protect the interests of the nation".

Angry crowds stopping buses to seek out pro government mobs who attacked #GoGotaGama earlier. People standing by were on the receiving end of many threats to stop recording #SriLanka #lka pic.twitter.com/P0MqefFo1A

— Kalani Kumarasinghe (@KalaniWrites) May 9, 2022

The supporters then initially pulled down tents of protesters in front of the prime minister's Temple Trees residence and torched anti-government banners and placards.

They then marched to the nearby Galle Face sea-front promenade and began destroying other tents set up by the "Gota go home" campaign that demands the president step down.

"Strongly condemn the violent acts taking place by those inciting & participating, irrespective of political allegiances. Violence won't solve the current problems," President Rajapaksa tweeted.

Opposition MP Sajith Premadasa tried to move into the area after the clashes, but he came under attack from a mob and his security staff bundled him into a car and drove off.

Every single time the Rajapaksa’s take the back alley instead of the high road. Violence, Emergency laws and fake followers will not stop the momentum of change. Expect serious repercussions if any peaceful protestors or media are harmed. https://t.co/gGmnAvSYxg

— Sajith Premadasa (@sajithpremadasa) May 9, 2022

"The President should accept the responsibility for this violence instigated by the Prime Minister!," opposition MP Eran Wickramaratne tweeted. "You cannot chase us from standing with our people."

On Friday, the government imposed a state of emergency granting the military sweeping powers to arrest and detain people after trade unions brought the country to a virtual standstill.

The defence ministry said in a statement on Sunday that anti-government demonstrators were behaving in a "provocative and threatening manner" and disrupting essential services.

President Rajapaksa has not been seen in public since tens of thousands attempted to storm his private residence in Colombo on March 31.