Sri Lanka: Protesters defy curfew after social media shutdown

In Sri Lanks, widespread protets reported against  the president's move to impose a nationwide curfew and state of emergency. Opposition lawmakers in Sri Lanka on Sunday marched in the capital, Colombo  shouting slogans and carrying placards that read “Stop Suppression” and “Gota go home.” Gota is a shortened version of the president's first name. Hundreds of students in Kandy defied a weekend curfew imposed by the government to protest against Sri Lanka's worsening economic crisis.Cops used tear gas and water cannon to try and disperse the protesters, who are defying a weekend curfew imposed by the government. The country is facing severe shortages of food, fuel and other essentials, along with crippling power cuts.Internet users in Sri Lanka were also unable to access Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, WhatsApp and other social media platforms on Sunday, after they had been used to organize protests calling for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign, saying he is responsible for the country’s deepening economic woes.

“This is unconstitutional," opposition leader Sajith Premadasa told troops who prevented the lawmakers from walking to the square. "You are violating the law. Please think of the people who are suffering. Why are you protecting a government like this?” The crisis has hit people from all walks of life. Middle class professionals and business people who would normally not take part in street protests have been holding nightly rallies with candles and placards in many parts of the country. "The social media block is temporary and imposed due to special instructions given by the Defence Ministry, the country's Telecommunications Regulatory Commission said. "It was imposed in the interests of the country and people to maintain calm," Jayantha de Silva, the Commission's Chairman, told Reuters.