2 Die in Crackdown on Opposition Protesters
The government sent in the army and police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition to block thousands of demonstrators from marching into Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, to protest the suspension of Parliament.
Two protesters were killed, bleeding to death, and nearly 80 others were injured, doctors at the city’s two largest hospitals said.
The United National Party had said it would unleash 100,000 people to cripple Colombo in a protest against President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s suspension of Parliament this month. She took the action after the opposition gathered enough support for a no-confidence vote.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
