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Gallery|Protests

Photos: Sri Lankan police fire tear gas to disperse protesters

Police in Colombo fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters demanding the release of activists.

Sri Lanka
Police disperse anti-government demonstrators in the capital, Colombo. [Ishara S Kodikara/AFP]
Published On 25 Sep 202225 Sep 2022
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The Sri Lankan police violently dispersed hundreds of demonstrators a day after severely curtailing protest rights in response to months of unrest sparked by the island nation’s sharp economic downturn.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken a tough line against activists who forced his predecessor to flee the country and resign in July at the peak of the country’s crisis.

Officers in anti-riot gear blocked the student march hours after the government declared the city centre a “high security zone”, outlawing protests in the vicinity.

Police fired tear gas and water cannon on Saturday to clear out the demonstrators, who were demanding the release of fellow activists detained under anti-terrorism laws.

Witnesses saw police detain dozens of participants.

Wickremesinghe on Friday ordered a ban on all demonstrations and protests near key institutions, including his office and the homes of the military top brass.

Sri Lanka’s influential bar association condemned the ban and said it seriously undermined freedom of expression and assembly.

Sri Lanka
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken a tough line against activists who forced his predecessor to flee the country and resign. [Ishara S Kodikara/AFP]
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Sri Lanka
Police detain protesters during protests in Colombo. [Chamila Karunarathne/EPA]
Sri Lanka
Anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Colombo. [Ishara S Kodikara/AFP]
Sri Lanka
Wickremesinghe ordered a ban on all demonstrations near key institutions, including his office and the homes of the military top brass. [Chamila Karunarathne/EPA]
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's bar association condemned the ban and said it seriously undermined freedom of expression and assembly. [Chamila Karunarathne/EPA]
Sri Lanka
Police disperse anti-government protesters in Colombo. [Ishara S Kodikara/AFP]
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Sri Lanka
Police fired tear gas and water cannon to clear out the demonstrators, who demanded the release of activists detained under anti-terrorism laws. [Ishara S Kodikara/AFP]


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