Sri Lankan police have arrested 664 individuals in the Western province for having violated an island-wide curfew, as a crackdown ensures in the wake of anti-government protests.

An investigation led by the US-based Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), into Jaliya Chitran Wickramasuriya has led to a guilty plea from the former Sri Lankan ambassador.

Reports have emerged of several social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter being disrupted in Sri Lanka, as authorities respond to protests challenging the ruling Rajapaksa regime.

Users across the island have begun using VPN services in an attempt to bypass apparent restrictions, as services have reported to been disrupted.

Responding to Sri Lanka’s state of emergency, which followed massive protests outside the President’s residency, the European Union has raised concern and stressed the need to respect democratic rights.

On Twitter they stated:

Mothers in the Mannar district have filed a complaint with the Mannar Public Health Medical Office after being supplied inedible bug-infested rice under the “Uthama Pooja for Pregnant Mothers” program by the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs

Social media activist, Anuruddha Bandara, was reportedly arrested on Friday night for running a Facebook page called “Gota Go Home”.

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.

_{Locals in Mannar queue for fuel}

Responding to Britain’s travel advisory warning on Sri Lanka, the country’s Foreign Ministry,  G.L. Peiris, lashed out against the UK accusing the government of singling out Sri Lanka for criticism and claimed individuals had gained 'mega financial benefits' as the United Nations Human Rights Council passed resolutions on mass atrocities committed on the island.

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. 

Gotabaya Rajapaksa has issued a gazette declaring a 'public emergency' following anti-government protests.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Sri Lanka are to initiate talks in the coming days regarding a financial assistance program after the state sought help to avert the deepening economic crisis. 

Supporters of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa were chased away by protesters in Jaffna after they attempted to disrupt a peaceful demonstration against the Sri Lankan government earlier today, with a Tamil woman pulling down a Sri Lankan flag that one of them was waving.

Amnesty International has called on Sri Lankan authorities to "not use unnecessary or excessive force to disperse protesters" after thousands of protesters tried to storm the President's residence last night.