The Rajapaksa loyalists according to video footage that emerged on social media within minutes, are seen brutally attacking peaceful protestors with clubs and other weapons.16 The pro-government groups set fire to tents on Galle Face used by the anti-government protestors17 while police stood largely as by standers, ineffectively using water cannon and tear gas to control the situation.18 Protestors visibly used pavements and the Galle face promenade to attack the peaceful protest site while water cannon was directed into empty streets. Protestors thereafter set fire to buses that had brought Rajapaksa loyalists into the city of Colombo, forced suspected Rajapaksa loyalists into the Beira lake close to the President’s official residence Temple Trees, and anti-government vigilante groups set up impromptu roadblocks on the main arteries to the city, checking buses and vehicles for pro-government groups. Some of them were armed with steel poles and sticks. Despite curfew, these vigilante groups were seen in the early hours of 10 May as well, but by dawn had dispersed, and were replaced by heavy military presence in the city. Homes and businesses of politicians and those connected with politicians were set on fire on the night of 9th May. 38 houses were burnt down and 65 houses of parliamentarians that night according to reports.19 One member of parliament was killed when he was caught in clash with a group of protestors. A further two people were shot at during the incident, killing one 27-year old man and injuring another.20 Eight people died in total and 232 were injured. 41 vehicles were set on fire, 61 damaged and 136 instances of property damage recorded. 21 On 10 May, shoot on sight orders were reportedly issued by the Ministry of Defense.22 The response of the police in this instance was totally inadequate given the extent of property damage and injuries caused by the clash between the Rajapaksa loyalists and anti-government protestors. The police did not take the reasonable and non-lethal measures to de-escalate the situation. The ineffective measures taken to prevent Rajapaksa loyalists from reaching GotaGoGama even after they smashed and attacked MynaGoGama, is indicative of police inaction to protect the rights of peaceful protestors and to protect peaceful protest sites. Instead of protecting peaceful protestors, the police evacuated political leaders who had incited the violence and permitted violent Rajapaksa loyalists to march from one protest site to another attacking peaceful protestors. 1.2.4 Violence against ordinary people challenging unfair fuel distribution Ordinary people protesting or challenging unfair distribution of fuel at fuel stations faced beatings and attacks by both police and armed forces. In Athurugiriya on 17 June, people were attacked by Human Rights Watch. “Sri Lanka: Government Backers Attack Peaceful Protesters”. https://www.hrw.org/ news/2022/05/10/sri-lanka-government-backers-attack-peaceful-protesters 17 Time. 9 May 2022. Sri Lanka Imposes Curfew as Government Backers, Protesters Clash. https://time.com/6174743/ sri-lanka-curfew-protests/ 18 Amnesty International. 11 May 2022. “Sri Lanka: New Emergency regulations and shooting orders threaten human rights”. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/05/sri-lanka-new-emergency-regulations-and-shootingorders-threaten-human-rights/ 19 Global Voices. 9 May 2022. “Sri Lanka in crisis”. https://globalvoices.org/special/sri-lanka-in-crisis/. 20 Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/9/sri-lanka-govt-supporters-attack-protesters-demolish-tents 21 Amnesty International. 11 May 2022. 22 Amnesty International. 11 May 2022. 16 6