Sri Lanka’s busiest streets were empty on Sunday after the government imposed a 36-hour curfew amid the country’s worst economic crisis in recent history.
Curfew has been imposed in Sri Lanka. (Photo: Ashutosh Mishra)
Severe shortages, skyrocketing prices and rising discontent – Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis in recent history. In protest against the same, people have taken to the streets and a nationwide anti-government protest was called on Sunday.
In the light of the same, the Sri Lankan government 36 hours curfew in the country. The information department said the island-wide curfew was imposed from 6 pm on Saturday to 6 am on Monday (April 4).
Due to this, there was silence on the busiest roads of Sri Lanka on Sunday. Only security personnel were seen on the streets.
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But on Sunday, everywhere in Sri Lanka was not deserted. The situation at petrol pumps was quite the opposite. People remained in long queues to get fuel as the country faced severe shortage of essential supplies.
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Sri Lanka crisis
- With heavy debt obligations and dwindling foreign reserves, Sri Lanka has found itself unable to pay for imports, leading to shortages of many goods, including fuel.
- Sri Lanka’s economic crisis is blamed by successive governments of not diversifying exports and relying on traditional cash sources such as tea, clothing and tourism, and a culture of consumption of imported goods.
- The Covid-19 pandemic has dealt a heavy blow to Sri Lanka’s economy, with the government estimating a loss of $14 billion over the past two years.
- Sri Lankans have taken to the streets to protest the economic crisis.
- Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency in the island nation on Saturday, a day after angry protesters demonstrated near his home demanding his resignation over the current economic crisis in the country.