Inflation Protests Turn to Clashes at Sri Lanka President’s Home

Police fire tear gas, water cannons to disperse protesters
Stock trading halted Friday after key index drops 10%

Demonstrators in Colombo on March 31.Photographer: Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images

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By Asantha Sirimanne and Anusha Ondaatjie

March 31, 2022 at 4:04 PM UTC

Updated on

April 1, 2022 at 6:07 AM UTC

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Hundreds of protesters clashed with police outside Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence into the early hours on Friday amid widespread anger over surging living costs and daily power cuts stemming from a foreign-exchange crisis.

Local television channels showed crowds screaming “Go home Gota” at the house on the outskirts of Colombo. Police fired tear gas and water cannons after the demonstrators broke past the barricades and pelted stones, the Daily Mirror reported.