Watch | Sri Lanka Crisis: Opposition holds protest defying curfew
The HinduSri Lanka’s main opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya on Sunday held a protest at Colombo’s Independence Square, defying a curfew imposed by the government that faces sharp criticism over its response to the country’s worsening economic crisis. Over the past week, citizen’s protests have intensified across Sri Lanka, amid a persisting shortage of food supplies and fuel, soaring prices of essentials, and long power cuts. Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa accused the government of resorting to “authoritarianism”, “autocratic measures” and “dictatorship” to silence people’s voices. “The regime has used excessive power to subjugate and constrain the democratic rights of the people of the country.” Mr. Premadasa said the party had come out on Sunday as the “alternative government” representing people’s concerns.