Clashes between police and protesters in Colombo

Thousands of protestors clashed with the police in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo on the 50-day anniversary since the beginning of protests against the government on the island nation. Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Protestors were demanding the resignation of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on their march towards the Presidential Palace when they were stopped at a police barricade.

Protests have been ongoing in Colombo for more than a month after the public blamed the country's leadership for mishandling the economy and being corrupt. Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as Prime Minister amid violent protests and Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been staying in his fortified residence for more than a month.

Sri Lanka, near bankruptcy, announced that it is suspending up to $7 billion of foreign loan payments due to be repaid this year because of a foreign currency crisis. The country must repay $25 billion as foreign debt by 2026 out of a total $51 billion. It has led to limited imports with no gasoline in filling stations. Other fuel, cooking gas, medicine and foods are in short supply, forcing people to stay in long lines to buy the limited stocks.