Accessing social media platforms came under the strict scrutiny of the Defence Ministry, which prompted the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission to restrict access to Facebook. Instagram, Whatsapp etc.
A visibly worried government over the public sentiments yesterday declared a state of emergency that later developed into a more decisive step by imposing a curfew from 6.00 pm on Saturday till 6.00 am on Monday.
Many professional organisations, including the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, urged the government to rescind the emergency and curfew to allow peaceful and democratic public protests against the hardship they were facing.
TNA Parliamentarian M.A Sumanthiran yesterday called on the government to withdraw emergency regulations and urged fellow Pralimentarians to vote against it when it comes up before Parliament for its scrutiny.
The European Union and the US ambassador to Sri Lanka also expressed their views on the democratic rights of the people and to engage in peaceful protests.
Last night people who gathered at a Colombo supermarket by provisions after the sudden imposition of the curfew let off their simmering anger by shouting slogans inside the premises.
Meanwhile, the Police said they arrested over 600 curfew violators last night.
The political fallout of the present crisis also felt severe when a constituent partner of the government, the Ceylon Workers Congress led by Jeevan Thondaman, said they had decided to withdraw their support of the government.
Earlier yesterday, a State Minister of the government, Roshan Ranasinghe, tendered his resignation from his portfolio, citing the government’s inability to solve the farmer issues relating to fertiliser and other connected matters.
Director General,Telecommunications Regulatiory Commission also confirmed on the request of the Defence Ministry service providers advised to temporarily restrict social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube etc.
