On April 20, 2022, Sri Lanka witnessed a surge in anti-government protests, with demonstrators blocking key highways and state-run hospitals halting non-emergency services due to a severe shortage of life-saving medicines.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa expressed his 'deep sadness' over the police shooting and promised to uphold the public's right to peaceful protest. He also assured an impartial and transparent inquiry into the incident.
International diplomats, including US ambassador Julie Chung and British High Commissioner Sarah Hulton, condemned the violence and called for restraint.
As Sri Lanka navigates its worst economic downturn since independence in 1948, the country is facing a severe shortage of dollars to finance essentials, including medicines. The Colombo Stock Exchange has suspended trading to prevent an anticipated market collapse.
A large crowd has been camped outside President Rajapaksa's seafront office in Colombo since April 9, demanding his resignation. Despite acknowledging public anger over the ruling family's mismanagement, Rajapaksa has refused to step down.
