Following the protest outside Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence, Sri Lankan police arrested a total of 56 people under the country's widely condemned Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) with 48 having since been released.
The 48 people were released on bail by Nugegoda magistrate’s court after the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka’s statement that those protesting in Nugegoda cannot be charged under the PTA.
Since these protests, the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka has stressed the rights of Sri Lankans to demonstrators against the administration.
Sri Lankans have a right to protest peacefully - essential for democratic expression. I am watching the situation closely, and hope the coming days bring restraint from all sides, as well as much needed economic stability and relief for those suffering.
— Ambassador Julie Chung (@USAmbSL) April 2, 2022
Several lawyers turned up at Gangodawila Magistrate’s Court to offer pro bono services for those arrested.
The demonstrations outside the President were initially peaceful with the crowd having a mixture of mothers and children. They were sparked by the dire economic crisis which has seen routine power outages and shortages of essential items impacting the whole island. As the demonstration grew Sri Lanka’s notorious Special Task Force (STF) was deployed alongside increased police personnel. Sri Lanka’s police use tear gas, water cannons, and batons against protesters without warning leading to escalating violence.
President Rajapaksa has since denounced demonstrators as "extremists" whilst another minister claimed that “terrorists” were behind the demonstration”.
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