India Dismisses Reports of Sending Troops to Sri Lanka Amid Escalating Protests

Demonstrators run from tear gas used by police during a protest demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, amid the country's economic crisis, near the president's residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 9, 2022. Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters

India “categorically” dismissed reports that it was sending troops to Sri Lanka amid worsening turmoil that has seen protesters break into both the president’s and prime minister’s residences to demand their resignations.

The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka issued a statement on July 11 denying “speculative reports” circulating on social media that New Delhi was sending troops to Sri Lanka to quell the nationwide unrest.

“These reports and such views are also not in keeping with the position of the government of India,” it said in a Twitter post, noting that India stood by Sri Lankans in their pursuit of national prosperity through democratic values.

Hundreds of anti-government protesters stormed the private residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Colombo’s Fort area on July 9 to demand his resignation. Rajapaksa reportedly fled for his safety, and his whereabouts remain unknown.

Protesters storm the Sri Lankan president's official residence, in Colombo, on July 9, 2022. Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo

Protesters also took aim at Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s residence and set it on fire, resulting in the arrest of three suspects. Security forces allegedly attacked several journalists covering the incident, the Daily Mirror reported.

New Delhi is following closely the developments in Sri Lanka, and “there is no refugee crisis” resulting from the unrest, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on July 10, according to local reports.

“We have been supportive of Sri Lanka, are trying to help, and have always been helpful. They are working through their problem, we will see what happens. There is no refugee crisis right now,” he told reporters.

Cash Found in Rajapaksa’s Home

Anti-government protesters who broke into Rajapaksa’s residence claimed to have discovered 17.85 million rupees ($225,000) stashed in his home, and handed over the recovered money to security units.

They vow to occupy both the leaders’ residences until they resign.

Demonstrators protest inside the President's House, after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled, amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 9, 2022. Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters

Wickremesinghe said that he will resign once a new government is formed, although several members of parliament urged him to remain in office because of his negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The prime minister declared Sir Lanka bankrupt on July 5 and said that the government will need to finalize and submit its debt restructuring and sustainability plan to the IMF by August.

The speaker of Parliament would take over as acting president for 30 days in the event that both Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe resign.

Clashes Between Armed Troops, Civilians

The United Nations said it received reports of Sri Lankan armed forces firing live ammunition at protesters, and police using tear gas and water cannons “in an unnecessary and disproportionate manner” during the unrest on July 9.

There were also reports of clashes between civilians and armed troops at gas stations where thousands of people waited for hours or days to obtain fuel, according to the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights.

Police use tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators during a protest demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 8, 2022. Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters

“While we recognize the challenges that the police and armed forces face—including instances of attack on themselves—the government needs to give strict instructions to the police and armed forces to desist from violence in dealing with the public and to act with utmost restraint,” it said in a statement.

Sri Lanka’s armed forces denied opening fire on demonstrators who stormed Rajapaksa’s mansion on July 9, claiming they had no intention of injuring protesters.

Police use tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators during a protest demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, amid the country's economic crisis, near the president's residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 9, 2022. Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters

“The army categorically denies having opened fire toward the protesters, but fired a few rounds to the air and the sidewalls of the main gate entrance to the president’s house compound as a deterrent, aimed at preventing the entry of the protesters into the compound,” it said.

Thousands of Sri Lankans have taken to the streets to demand the resignations of Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe, who they hold responsible for the nation’s worsening economic crisis.

Wickremesinghe was appointed in May, after then-Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned amid deadly unrest.

Wickremesinghe said last week that Sri Lanka’s total debt increased to 21.6 trillion rupees in March from 17.5 trillion rupees at the end of 2021, with $3.4 billion of debt maturing between June and December.

As of April 2022, the top creditors for the debt are the Asia Development Bank at $4.4 billion, China at $3.39 billion, Japan at $3.36 billion, and the World Bank at $3.2 billion.