2.2 Riot police deployed Around 1pm onwards, media reports revealed that police officers carrying batons and shields and wearing gas had reached the protest site.28 STF officers carrying shields and batons are also visible in the media footage.29The Sri Lanka Collective Against Torture has verified videos that emerged from the site, where the protest appears peaceful. Protestors are seen blocking the RambukkanaKatupitiya road, blocking the road near the Rambukkana co-op fuel station and again at the intersection with the railway line. They burned tyres and blocked off incoming traffic on the same road at the intersection with the railway crossing, just before the RambukkanaSamurdhi bank. Image 1 below depicts the key locations where the incidents took place. 2.3 Tear gas canisters fired At around 5pm, it was reported that tear gas canisters were fired by police to disperse protestors after they had been protesting for nearly ten to fifteen hours. Tear gas canisters can be heard being fired in media footage from the scene, and protestors can be seen dispersing at the sound of canisters firing. Footage also shows police officers throwing tear gas canisters and the resultant gas fumes are visible.30 A news report stated: “The police have fired tear gas to disperse protesters who have been blocking the level crossing in Rambukkana for more than 15 hours. People who were standing in long queues to obtain fuel since early this morning (April 19), staged a protest in Rambukkana, completely blocking the area. According to reports, the protesters had blocked all entry and exit roads to Rambukkana town, urging the authorities to provide fuel at previous rates.”31 ‘Police open fire on Rambukkana protesters: One person killed’ News First, 19 April 2022, 01:00 onwards, https://fb.watch/cDy5XMpWEH/ 29 ‘Police open fire on Rambukkana protesters: One person killed’ News First, 19 April 2022, 02:06 onwards, https://fb.watch/cDy5XMpWEH/ 30 ‘Police open fire on Rambukkana protesters: One person killed’ News First, 19 April 2022, 01:30 onwards: https://fb.watch/cDy5XMpWEH/; ‘Police fire tear gas at protesters in Rambukkana to clear the railway line’ News First, 19 April 2022. https://twitter.com/NewsWireLK/status/1516386064147001347?s=20&t=aVXyD9CeTZyozZWz0Ke5w’; ‘Clashes reported between the Police and protesters in Rambukkana after Police fired tear gas to clear the blocked railway line’ News First, 19 April 2022 https://twitter.com/NewsWireLK/status/1516390818088558594?s=20&t=J7YUQ3CySLMRqJJjIa2gqg 31 ‘Police fire tear gas at protesters in Rambukkana’ News First, 19 April 2022. http://www.adaderana.lk/news/81921/ police-fire-tear-gas-at-protesters-in-rambukkana 28 8