Troops in Sri Lanka open fire to quell riots over petrol

• Troops fired in Visuvamadu, 365 kilometres (228 miles) north of Colombo, on Saturday night.
• Troops fired as their guard point was pelted with stones; army spokesman said.
• Unprecedented queues for petrol and diesel seen across the bankrupt country.

Motorists began to protest when the pump ran out of gas; police said, and the situation escalated into a clash with troops. Officials said Sri Lanka’s military opened fire to quell rioting at a fuel station on Sunday; as the country’s bankrupt government faced unprecedented lines for gasoline and diesel.

Army spokesman Nilantha Premaratne said troops fired in Visuvamadu, 365 kilometres (228 miles) north of Colombo; on Saturday night as their guard point was pelted with stones.
Premaratne told AFP that “a group of 20 to 30 people; pelted stones and damaged an army truck.”

Read More: ‘Sri Lanka could face humanitarian emergency’

The army opened fire for the first time to quell unrest linked to the worsening economic crisis; injuring four civilians and three soldiers.

Sri Lanka is experiencing its worst economic crisis since independence; with the country unable to import basic necessities such as food, fuel; and medicines due to a lack of dollars.

Read More: Sri Lanka will be without fuel