Violence in Sri Lanka over fuel price hike

Violence broke out in parts of Sri Lanka on Wednesday as fishermen protested over a fuel price hike implemented by the government last weekend. One fisherman was killed and several others were injured when the police clashed with the protestors in Chilaw in the north western coastal belt. Sri Lanka police spokesman Ajith Rohana said that the police were forced to fire tear gas towards the fishermen as the protest got out of hand. However, he said that there were no immediate reports of the police firing live ammunition towards the fishermen despite reports that the fisherman who died in Chilaw succumbed to gunshot injuries. Meanwhile in Negambo, a town close to Sri Lanka's only international airport, another group of fishermen staged a demonstration over the fuel price hike by blocking the main road. The fishermen are demanding a reduction in the price of fuel or some sort of concession as they use fuel to operate their fishing boats. Earlier this week private bus operators also went on strike over the fuel price increase, but the government subsequently gave the approval for private bus operators to increase bus fares to cushion any loss they may incur from the fuel price hike. The Sri Lankan government last week increased the price of petrol, diesel and kerosene saying it was in line with the world market price of oil.