Sri Lanka News Highlights: 1 dead, 13 injured in Sri Lanka as police opens fire on protesters

Sri Lanka Highlights: At least one person was killed and 13 others injured on Tuesday when police opened fire to disperse anti-government protestors in Sri Lanka’s southwestern region of Rambukkana. According to the police, protestors had blocked the railway track at Rambukkana and started pelting stones at them, PTI reported. Meanwhile, the country’s prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said he expects the police to investigate clashes.

The residents of Rambukkana were protesting the latest fuel price hike when they clashed with the police. Police Spokesperson Nihal Thalduwa said in order to control the situation police opened fire and several people were injured. At least 12 people were admitted to the Kegalle hospital, four of them were critical, police said.

With Sri Lanka witnessing one of its worst-ever economic crises, people across the island nation have been protesting against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government and its handling of the economy. A severe shortage of foreign currency has left the government unable to pay for essential imports, including fuel. As a result, ordinary Sri Lankans has been dealing with shortages and the crippling impact of soaring inflation.