Colombo: Protesting students broke police barricades and entered Sri Lanka The health ministry’s office here amid dire forecasts of shortage of medicines and fuel and starvation.
At a nearby fuel station, people queued up for over 36 hours. one of them, Ranjan Gurusinghetold TOI, “Ask India to help us, send us rice and fuel”.
Addressing the Parliament, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abhaywardhan presented the picture of Doomsday. “We have been told this is the worst crisis, but I think it is just the beginning. The lack of food, gas and electricity will get worse. There will be starvation,” he said.
Students took to the streets here on Wednesday as Sri Lanka grapples with unprecedented political and economic crises.
The students, some of them wearing saffron robes, first reached Dean Road. On reaching the health ministry office, he removed a portion of a gate from its hinges and passed over the police personnel, who were watching.
A student told TOI, “The future of the country is at stake. They are handing out allied health services degrees like items in shops.” Among the protesters were monks enrolled in the Allied Health Sciences program at the University of Peradeniya. Ministry staff were videographing the protesters behind closed doors. “We are protesting the lack of opportunities in government jobs,” said Kanishk Hussral, who is enrolled in the four-year programme.
Meanwhile, a few hundred meters away, the Sepecto fueling station was the picture of growing discontent in the capital city. Ranjan Gurusinghe, an independent cameraman, was among those who waited for the fuel for more than 36 hours. His Toyota Nova took his place in the queue. “After waiting for several hours, I go home to get food and am back here soon,” he said.
Strike and protests continue in Sri Lanka as President on Wednesday Gotabaya Rajapakse Caught in the fresh political upheaval that gripped the beleaguered nation. Vikramasama SenaA driver has been standing in a queue since 5 am. He left four 100 liter cans in the queue to mark his place. When he saw the red colored tanker, his face lit up. “Finally, the super diesel tanker,” he said. “It costs more, but I have no choice.”
Like the army and Gurusinghe, nixon michael, who works for a private firm transporting employees, and Madusanka Sirivardhana had left barrels and cans in the queue. “It’s not the end of the wait for us. We’ll be back once we run out of stock,” Michael said.
At a nearby fuel station, people queued up for over 36 hours. one of them, Ranjan Gurusinghetold TOI, “Ask India to help us, send us rice and fuel”.
Addressing the Parliament, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abhaywardhan presented the picture of Doomsday. “We have been told this is the worst crisis, but I think it is just the beginning. The lack of food, gas and electricity will get worse. There will be starvation,” he said.
Students took to the streets here on Wednesday as Sri Lanka grapples with unprecedented political and economic crises.
The students, some of them wearing saffron robes, first reached Dean Road. On reaching the health ministry office, he removed a portion of a gate from its hinges and passed over the police personnel, who were watching.
A student told TOI, “The future of the country is at stake. They are handing out allied health services degrees like items in shops.” Among the protesters were monks enrolled in the Allied Health Sciences program at the University of Peradeniya. Ministry staff were videographing the protesters behind closed doors. “We are protesting the lack of opportunities in government jobs,” said Kanishk Hussral, who is enrolled in the four-year programme.
Meanwhile, a few hundred meters away, the Sepecto fueling station was the picture of growing discontent in the capital city. Ranjan Gurusinghe, an independent cameraman, was among those who waited for the fuel for more than 36 hours. His Toyota Nova took his place in the queue. “After waiting for several hours, I go home to get food and am back here soon,” he said.
Strike and protests continue in Sri Lanka as President on Wednesday Gotabaya Rajapakse Caught in the fresh political upheaval that gripped the beleaguered nation. Vikramasama SenaA driver has been standing in a queue since 5 am. He left four 100 liter cans in the queue to mark his place. When he saw the red colored tanker, his face lit up. “Finally, the super diesel tanker,” he said. “It costs more, but I have no choice.”
Like the army and Gurusinghe, nixon michael, who works for a private firm transporting employees, and Madusanka Sirivardhana had left barrels and cans in the queue. “It’s not the end of the wait for us. We’ll be back once we run out of stock,” Michael said.