Colombo: One person was killed while four
others were injured Wednesday as Sri Lankan police fired on
fishermen protesting a fuel price increase.
A 35-year-old, father of two, was killed when police
fired teargas shells and used water cannons to disperse the
protesting fishermen in north-western coastal town of Chilaw.
The government on Saturday affected a drastic retail
price increase in fuel and today`s protests were to press the
govt to roll back the hike in diesel and kerosene prices.
"The protesters turned violent. They stoned the judge`s
and the police superintendent`s residences and also attacked
police constables," police spokesman Ajith Rohana said.
In the capital city of Colombo protests by opposition
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) against the hike in fuel
prices was quelled by police.
"It was a very unruly protest. The police had to
intervene," the spokesman said.
The opposition has accused the government of economic
mismanagement which according to them was causing hardships to
people.
Government, however, termed the protests as unreasonable,
saying it had already announced subsidy payments.
PTI
