Sri Lanka curfew
Social media blocked in Sri Lanka amid 36-hour curfew to stem protests
Colombo/IBNS: Battling the nationwide protest amid a massive economic crisis, the Sri Lankan government has blocked access to all social media sites in its latest bid to quell agitation against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Access to all social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube, have been blocked following a government order late on Saturday.
People received messages on their mobile phones informing them that this step has been taken "as directed by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission".
The Sri Lankan government said the decision was taken to stem misinformation spread.
A 36-hour curfew is already in place in the island nation of 22 million.
The curfew, which began on Saturday at 6 pm, has been imposed till Monday, 6 am.
During this period, mass anti-government protests were scheduled over worsening shortages of fuel, food and medicines.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa issued a notice prohibiting people from coming out on any public roads, in parks, on trains, or on the seashore, unless they have written permission from the authorities.
These new stringent restrictions are aimed at preventing new protests after crowds set several vehicles ablaze near the president's private residence on Thursday.
The military has since been deployed and given powers to arrest people without warrants.
The island nation is in the midst of its worst economic crisis caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which is used to pay for fuel imports. People are facing power cuts that last half a day or more.
Added to that, shortages of fuel, essential food and medicines have led to public anger which led to street protests and violence.
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