Tear gas fired on Sri Lanka protesters in first demonstrations since state of emergency was lifted

Sri Lanka police fired tear gas and a water cannon at a protest on August 18, 2022, to break up the first demonstration since the crisis-hit island nation lifted a state of emergency on May 20. An unprecedented economic collapse has sparked large anti-government rallies after months of hardship caused by shortages of essential goods, rolling blackouts and spiralling inflation. President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that his government would not renew a state of emergency.