One dead & 12 injured as Sri Lankan police open fire at protestors in #Rambukkana

COLOMBO (News 1st); One person has died and 12 others are injured after police opened fire to disperse protestors in Rambukkana, Sri Lanka on Tuesday (19) evening.

Sri Lanka Police confirmed that the police opened fire to disperse a group of protestors who were obstructing the Rambukkana Railway Crossing since early morning.

Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa said police issued warnings to the protestors to leave the area, however they did not comply.

He added that the protestors thereafter attempted to set fire to a fuel bowser, as well as a three-wheeler causing damaging to property.

The Police Spokesperson said that in order to disperse the crowd police officers fired tear gas, and thereafter the protestors started hurling rocks as the protestors.

Thereafter, in order to control the situation police had opened fire and several people were injured.

The injured were rushed to the Kegalle Hospital for treatment, while several police officers were also assaulted and they too are being moved to the hospital, said the police spokesperson.