In the crisis-hit country of Sri Lanka, a large contingent of security forces stormed and dispersed the main anti-government protest camp in the capital, Colombo. When about 1,000 police and army officers were deployed on Friday evening, nine people were arrested, police said. A spokesman said 14 of the injured protesters were taken to the National Hospital.

The popular protests were directed, among other things, against the new President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had been sworn in a few hours earlier. They see him as a representative of the power elite surrounding former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled abroad after unprecedented mass protests. Sri Lanka is mired in a severe economic and financial crisis, with people blaming mismanagement by political leaders.

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A member of the governing party, Dinesh Gunawardena, was sworn in as head of the new government on Friday. The 73-year-old had previously been appointed by the new President. The new prime minister is also seen as a staunch supporter of the runaway former president.

Newly unpopular President Ranil Wickremesinghe said at his inauguration that any attempt to overthrow the government or occupy government buildings is not democracy but is against the law. Hours later the raid on the main protest camp began.

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According to police, about 200 protesters were present at the time of the raid. Troops tore down tents and erected barricades around the protest camp to prevent anyone from returning. According to police, about 300 people demonstrated in the capital on Friday morning (local time).

Lawyers who wanted to go to the former main protest camp on Friday were attacked by emergency services, the bar association said. At least one lawyer and several journalists were also arrested.

The chamber called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe to ensure that he and his government respect the rule of law and basic people’s rights. They condemned the attack on the protesters. The country’s Human Rights Commission also called the attack a total violation of human rights.

Sri Lanka is in the midst of a severe economic crisis

A crackdown on protesters could disrupt negotiations between the heavily indebted country and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Sri Lanka has also asked the IMF for help in dealing with the worst economic crisis in decades. Saliya Pieries, of the country’s Bar Association, said on Friday that the use of unnecessary force was not good for Sri Lanka’s international reputation.

The southern Indian island nation of about 22 million people was once considered the new Singapore, a rising country with a growing middle class. People now have to queue at gas stations for days to get petrol or diesel. Power goes out regularly. There was no gas for cooking or medicine, and food prices skyrocketed. The heavily indebted country lacked the money to import essential goods.

The reasons for the crisis are manifold: mismanagement and corruption play a role, but also the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, which has hit the vital tourism sector very hard. Due to the crisis, tens of thousands of people have opposed the political leadership in recent weeks on the street. Many of them also blame the family of former President Rajapaksa, who is part of the country’s power elite. (dpa)