Economic Crisis Grips Sri Lanka: Protests Amid Lack of Food, Fuel and Medicine

Sri Lankan Police opened fire to disperse the protesters, injuring 10 of them in the process. One of the demonstrators died in the incident.

The country's Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa vowed that changes will be made to the constitution to limit the powers of the president, while broadening those of the parliament.

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Members of Sri Lanka's opposition political party National People's Power shout anti-government slogans during a protest rally in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, April 19, 2022. Sri Lanka’s prime minister said Tuesday the constitution will be changed to clip presidential powers and empower Parliament as protesters continued to call on the president and his powerful family to quit over the country's economic crisis. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

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A protester with her face painted takes part in an ongoing anti-government demonstration near the president's office in Colombo on April 19, 2022, demanding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation over the country's crippling economic crisis. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP)

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Protesters block a road in Rambukkana on April 19, 2022. - Sri Lanka police shot dead a protester and wounded 24 others on April 19 in the first fatal clash with residents demonstrating against the government over the island nation's crippling economic crisis. (Photo by AFP)

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Protesters shout slogans during an ongoing anti-government demonstration near the president's office in Colombo on April 18, 2022, demanding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation over the country's crippling economic crisis. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP)

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Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party activists and supporters shout anti-government slogans during a demonstration in Colombo on April 19, 2022, demanding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation over the country's crippling economic crisis. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP)

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A Sri Lankan man carries a trash bin with a poster of president Gotabaya Rajapqaksa pasted on it during an ongoing anti-government protest outside president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, April 18, 2022. Sri Lanka's president appointed 17 new Cabinet ministers on Monday as he and his powerful family seek to resolve a political crisis resulting from the country's dire economic state.

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Protesters block a railway line in Rambukkana on April 19, 2022. - Sri Lanka police shot dead a protester and wounded 24 others on April 19 in the first fatal clash with residents demonstrating against the government over the island nation's crippling economic crisis.

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Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party activists and supporters shout anti-government slogans during a demonstration in Colombo on April 19, 2022, demanding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation over the country's crippling economic crisis.

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Sri Lankans light candles during a vigil condemning police shooting at protesters in Rambukkana, 90 kilometers (55 miles) northeast of Colombo, at a protest outside the president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, April 19, 2022. Sri Lankan police opened fire Tuesday at a group of people protesting new fuel price increases, killing one and injuring 10 others, in the first shooting by security forces during weeks of demonstrations over the country's worst economic crisis in decades.

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A man holds a Sri Lankan national flag during an ongoing anti-government demonstration outside the president's office in Colombo on April 15, 2022, demanding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation over the country's crippling economic crisis.