Protests in Sri Lanka as economic crisis worsens

A group of Sri Lankan governing party lawmakers called Tuesday for the appointment of an interim government, warning that a failure to do so would lead to violence and anarchy, as demonstrators continue to demand the resignation of Rajapaksa over the country’s worst economic crisis in decades.

A man cheers for protestors as he travels on a motorbike as people shout slogans against Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and demand that Rajapaksa family politicians step down, during a protest amid the country's economic crisis, on a main road in Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 4, 2022.

Sri Lankan police officers stand guard near the parliament during a protest in Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 5, 2022.

Sri Lankans protest demanding president Gotabaya Rajapaksa resign, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 5, 2022.

Sri Lankan nuns protest against the economic crisis in Colombo, April 5, 2022.

A protestor holds an oil lamp during a demonstration against the surge in prices and shortage of fuel and other essential commodities in Colombo, April 1, 2022.

Sri Lankans protest demanding president Gotabaya Rajapaksa resign, in Colombo, April 5, 2022.

Demonstrators react after they set a fire to a bus parked at the road to the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence during a protest against him as many parts of the crisis-hit country faced up to 13 hours without electricity due to a shortage of foreign currency to import fuel, in Colombo, March 31, 2022.

Demonstrators hold placards and shout slogan during a protest against the surge in prices and shortage of fuel and other essential commodities in Colombo, April 4, 2022.

Sri Lankan Catholic clergy protest against the economic crisis in Colombo, April 5, 2022.

Sri Lankans protest demanding president Gotabaya Rajapaksa resign, in Colombo, April 4, 2022.

Demonstrators react after a bus was set alight parked at the top of the road to Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence during a protest against him, as many parts of the crisis-hit country faced up to 13 hours without electricity due to a shortage of foreign currency to import fuel, in Colombo, March 31, 2022.

People shout slogans against Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and demand that Rajapaksa family politicians step down, during a protest amid the country's economic crisis, on a main road in Colombo, April 4, 2022.

A demonstrator throws a stone near Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence during the protests against him in Colombo, March 31, 2022.

Police officers carry an injured officer during a protest near Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence, in Colombo, March 31, 2022.

The police disperse demonstrators near Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence during a protest against him as many parts of the crisis-hit country faced up to 13 hours without electricity due to a shortage of foreign currency to import fuel, in Colombo, March 31, 2022.

Members of the Sri Lankan army stand guard near President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence during protests against him, in Colombo, March 31, 2022.

Demonstrators surround an army bus near Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence during protests against him, Colombo, March 31, 2022.

People shout slogans against Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and demand that Rajapaksa family politicians step down, at Independence Square in Colombo, April 4, 2022.

A person takes a photo as a demonstrator walks near a bus that was set on fire at the top of the road to Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence, Colombo, March 31, 2022.

Sri Lankan army commandos walk past a damaged bus after it was set on fire by demonstrators at the top of the road to Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence, in Colombo, April 1, 2022.

Sri Lankans protest demanding president Gotabaya Rajapaksa resign, Colombo, April 5, 2022.

Anti-riot police stand in position behind a fence as they face protestors during a demonstration against the surge in prices and shortage of fuel and other essential commodities, at the entrance of the president's office in Colombo, April 4, 2022.

A pet carries a placard at a protest against Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a residential area after the government imposed a curfew following a clash between police and protestors near the president's residence during protests, in Colombo, April 3, 2022.

Police clashes with protestors during a demonstration outside the Sri Lankan president's home with protestors calling for him to step down as the country's unprecedented economic crisis worsens, in Colombo, March 31, 2022.

Sri Lankan army soldiers stand guard near the Independence Square as opposition alliance Samagi Jana Balawegaya party members protest against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Colombo, April 3, 2022.

People attend a protest against Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a residential area after the government imposed a curfew following clashes between police and protestors near the president's residence during protests, in Colombo, April 3, 2022.

Protestors beat utensils as a sign of protest during a march against the surge in prices and shortage of fuel and other essential commodities in Colombo, April 3, 2022.

Demonstrators hold placards and shout slogans during a protest against the surge in prices and shortage of fuel and other essential commodities in Colombo, April 4, 2022.

People shout slogans against Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and demand that Rajapaksa family politicians step down, at Independence Square in Colombo, April 4, 2022.

Protestors take part in a demonstration against the surge in prices and shortage of fuel and other essential commodities at the entrance of the president's office in Colombo, April 4, 2022.

Sri Lankans protest demanding president Gotabaya Rajapaksa resign, behind a police barricade on a street leading to parliament in Colombo, April 5, 2022.