Hundreds of Sri Lankans protested on Tuesday against a government clampdown on peaceful demonstrations over the country’s worst economic crisis.
Protesters marched to the Independence Square in Colombo and demanded the government withdraws the use of emergency laws against them.
The demonstrators, led by religious and trade union leaders, urged an end to the arrests of peaceful protesters, the dissolution of Parliament and basic supplies for those in need.
It is the latest in four months of street protests in the crisis-hit country.
Last month, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to Singapore and resigned after demonstrators stormed his official home and occupied several vital government buildings.
His brother, Mahinda, resigned as prime minister in May, with four other family members quitting as ministers before him.
Protesters accuse the Rajapaksa family of plunging the country into the crisis through mismanagement and corruption.
The former prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, was elected by Parliament to complete Mr Rajapaksa’s five-year term until 2024. However, many of the protesters say he was backed by lawmakers who are still loyal to the Rajapaksas to protect the former ruling family from being held accountable.
Several groups had initially called a major rally to force Mr Wickremesinghe out of office, but a lack of support forced them to hold smaller protests. They called for a temporary government, the dissolution of Parliament and fresh elections.
Sri Lankan hospitals struggle during economic crisis - in pictures
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A nurse checks on a premature baby at the Castle Street Hospital for Women in Colombo. Lahiru Harshana / The National -
Consultant Dr Saman Kumara with nursing staff at the Castle Street Hospital for Women in Colombo. Lahiru Harshana / The National -
Dr Saman Kumara, a consultant neonatologist. Lahiru Harshana / The National -
Dr Saman Kumara says life saving equipment to monitor the health of infants and save babies from respiratory distress is required in Sri Lanka. Lahiru Harshana / The National -
A nurse treats a sick child in Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo. AFP -
Sri Lanka expatriates in the UAE send vital medical supplies back home to a nation reeling from a foreign exchange crisis. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Medical supplies needed urgently by hospitals in Sri Lanka are packed in a warehouse in Dubai's Ras Al Khor area. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
A mother with her child waits for medicines at the pharmacy in Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo. AFP -
A mother sits beside her child in Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children. AFP -
A mother with her child speaks to a nurse in Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children. AFP -
A pharmacist attends to a man in Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children. AFP -
A health worker packs medicines in the hospital. AFP -
People queue to get medicine from the outpatient department during strike action at the National hospital in Colombo. EPA -
Patients wait to receive drugs at Colombo South Teaching Hospital in Colombo. Getty Images -
A man stands outside a pharmacy in Colombo. Getty Images -
Pharmacists arrange drugs at Colombo South Teaching Hospital. Getty Images -
A patient stands with his mother outside Colombo South Teaching Hospital in Colombo. Getty Images -
A deserted outpatient department during the island-wide strike at the National hospital in Colombo. EPA -
Mudiyansege Chandrawathi, a cancer patient, has a drink after attending a clinic at the national cancer hospital in Maharagama, a suburb of Colombo. AP Photo -
A hospital worker carries a tray of drugs at a government-run hospital in Colombo. AP Photo
Since his election, Mr Wickremesinghe has authorised the military and police to violently dismantle protest camps and arrest those they identified to have trespassed the presidential palace and other state buildings.
Mr Wickremesinghe on Tuesday visited the army headquarters and thanked soldiers who protected Parliament when protesters tried to enter last month.
“If we had lost Parliament, it would have created a big problem … we would have lost the governance system that we know,” Mr Wickremesinghe said.
He said it was up to lawmakers to win over the confidence of the people.
