Sri Lankan soldiers opened fire at a petrol station to quell a riot that injured seven, three soldiers and four civilians. Authorities said on Sunday that drivers had been queuing for hours for fuel. The incidents took place in Wusuamadu, 365 kilometers north of the capital Colombo, on Saturday night, when the military position was targeted by stones, said army spokeswoman Nylanta Premaratne.
«A group of 20 to 30 people threw stones and damaged an army truck“- said AFP Nylanta Premaratne. The police said that four civilians and three soldiers were wounded when the army opened fire for the first time, to suppress disruption with the deterioration of the economic crisis. When the gas station dried up, drivers began to complain, and the situation escalated into a clash with the army, police said.
Sri Lanka has been hit by the worst economic crisis in its history, with severe currency shortages preventing it from importing enough food, fuel and other necessities. The island of 22 million, which borders neighboring India, has lived for months with daily power outages, long queues at gas stations, food rations, and record inflation. For weeks, peaceful protesters demanded the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, accusing them of mismanagement.
Clashes involving police officers and drivers
Sri Lanka has deployed police and armed soldiers in front of gas stations. In April, police in central Rambouillet shot dead a driver in connection with a gasoline rational collision.
Police have reported that clashes took place in three places with the participation of police and drivers weekend. At least six law enforcement officers were injured in the collision, and 7 drivers were arrested.
The government has decided to close administrations and schools for two weeks to reduce travel and conserve fuel. The UN has warned that the economic crisis could turn into a serious humanitarian crisis, as millions of people already need help. The government has not already paid its $ 51 billion foreign debt, and is in talks with the International Monetary Fund.
Source: Le Figaro
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