Clashes at president’s home imperil Sri Lankan tourism

Bloomberg

Sri Lanka’s government said the protesters’ violent clashes with police outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s home were a threat to the revival of the tourism sector, appealing for calm amid widespread anger over surging costs and power cuts stemming from a foreign exchange crisis.
“Today we have a big problem with foreign exchange. One solution is to get more tourists to come. I believe the opposition wants to create a crisis and stop tourists,” Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said in a conference to address the clashes. “In about six to seven months, we think the forex problem will begin to be resolved.”
The government was counting on a restart of tourism to build up its foreign exchange reserves after two years of Covid lockdowns at home and disruptions to global leisure travel. The sector generally accounts for about 5% of the economy.
Tensions are on the rise after protesters surged past the
barricades surrounding Rajapaksa’s residence and pelted stones, prompting police to fire tear gas and water cannons. Local television channels and social media videos showed the crowd screaming “Go home Gota” and demanding the resignation of Rajapaksa and his family from government.
Rajapaksa’s elder brother Mahinda serves as prime minister while Basil, the youngest, holds the finance portfolio. The eldest Rajapaksa brother Chamal controls the agriculture ministry while nephew Namal is the sports minister. These family members enjoy two-thirds majority support in parliament while the opposition remains divided. National elections will be held in 2023 at the earliest.
“Economically, the government is in deep crisis, but not politically. The development is not going to endanger the government as they have the substantial majority,” said N Manoharan, director for the Centre for East Asian Studies at Christ University, Bengaluru.
“Once common man’s daily needs like food and fuel are addressed, which the government is in a position to manage with some corrective measures, the protests will defuse,” he added.
Nearly 50 people were injured and protesters set fire to an army bus near the president’s home, the Daily Mirror reported.