: Anti-govt protests turn violent in Sri Lanka: 1 dead, 12 injured #IndiaNEWS #International Colombo: Sri Lankan police Tuesday opened fire at anti-government protestors in the southwestern region of

Anti-govt protests turn violent in Sri Lanka: 1 dead, 12 injured #IndiaNEWS #International
Colombo: Sri Lankan police Tuesday opened fire at anti-government protestors in the southwestern region of Rambukkana, killing at least one person and injuring 12 others the first death during the ongoing protests over the worst-ever economic crisis in the countrys history.
The residents of Rambukkana some 90 kilometres northeast of Colombo, were protesting at the latest fuel price hike when they clashed with the police.
Scores of protesters teemed the streets and public places of Rambukkana town on Monday. The demonstration went late into the night.
On Tuesday, the protesters blocked the railway track at Rambukkana. When they were asked to clear the rail line, they hurled stones at security personnel, police said.
Police Spokesperson Nihal Thalduwa said police issued warnings to the protestors to leave the area. However, the protestors attempted to set fire to a fuel bowser, as well as a three-wheeler causing damaging to property, Thalduwa was quoted as saying by News 1st channel.
Thalduwa said that the police had opened fire after initially using tear gas to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control.
One person was killed and 12 others injured in the firing, police said.
The injured were admitted to Kegalle hospital. Four of them are in critical condition, police said.
This was the first death due to clash during the ongoing anti-government protests. Earlier, a rap musician died of a heart attack while attending the protest.
Curfew was imposed in the area following the violence, police said, adding that a number of policemen were also injured in the incident.
The Police Special Task Force (STF) was deployed in the area to control the situation.
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has appointed a three-member team to investigate the incident in Rambukkana. The commission has also called for an emergency meeting on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka is grappling with unprecedented economic turmoil since its independence from Britain in 1948. The crisis is caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which has meant that the country cannot afford to pay for imports of staple foods and fuel, leading to acute shortages and very high prices.
The island nation is witnessing large-scale protests against the governments handling of the debt-ridden economy the worst-ever economic crisis in the countrys history.
Protests demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his Sri Lanka Podujana (Peramuna)-led government have intensified as shortages continued and prices soared.
Meanwhile, Minister of Transport Dilum Amunugama said public bus fares have been hiked by 35 per cent.
The minimum bus fare has been raised to Rs 27 from Rs 20.