police after they challenged petrol shed staff after the shed ran out of fuel.23 Ten persons were arrested by the police.24 On 18 June the army opened fire by shooting into the air at a fuel station in Vishwamadu, Muallaitivu in the North of the country, and beat people as they demanded fuel.25 People demanding fuel also have pelted stones at the nearby army check point according to reports. Several persons were injured including four civilians and three army personnel. Two persons were arrested. 2. A close look at police violence against protests in Rambukkana 2.1 9 April 2022: Civilian protest against fuel price hike and shortage At around 10:30 am, residents of the town of Rambukkanain the Kegalle district in the Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka, were reported to be engaged in a peaceful protest against the hike in fuel prices and the fuel shortage by erecting a vehicle blockade. A large crowd of protestors had assembled.26The Colombo-Kandy railway line was blocked by vehicles and protestors, reportedly resulting in the disruption of traffic. 27 Buddhist monks were also present at the protest and had stated to media that protesters were unarmed, and were not engaging in violence and had even offered food to the policemen. Reports from the ground revealed that many shops and businesses had remained closed that day in Rambukkanato support the protests.  People had reportedly been queuing to obtain fuel since 18 April and accused the staff at the fuel station of withholding stocks of fuel until the price of fuel was increased. The owner of the fuel station was reportedly the personal secretary of a local politician. Witnesses from the site revealed that two fuel bowsers had arrived by 4.30am on the 19th, but the fuel had reportedly not been accepted by the fuel station. At around 11.30am a fuel bowser that had arrived at the fuel station was stopped by protesters about 100 meters away from the fuel station. Protesters had reportedly ensured no harm came to the bowser. Newswire. 18 June 2022. “10 arrested over Athurugiriya fuel station incident”. https://www.newswire. lk/2022/06/18/10-arrested-over-athurugiriya-fuel-station-incident/ 24 Daily Mirror. 18 June 2022. “Six cops injured in Athurugiriya petrol shed clash: Nine arrested”. https://www. dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Six-cops-injured-in-Athurugiriya-petrol-shed-clash-Nine-arrested/108-239314. 25 Global Times. 19 June 2022. “Sri Lanka troops open fire to contain fuel station riots”. https://www.globaltimes.cn/ page/202206/1268455.shtml. 26 Facebook Live video: uploaded at 10:30 am, https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1193359141404550&id=100006297004375&sfnsn=mo 27 ‘Roads are being blocked due to fuel protests’ Lankdeepa, 19 April 2022. https://www.lankadeepa.lk/main_picture/%E0%B6%89%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%B0%E0%B6%B1-%E0 %B7%80%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%9D%E0%B6%B0%E0%B6%BA%E0%B7%99%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%90%E0%B6%B1-%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%90%E0%B6%B1-%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%8F%E0%B 7%80%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%8A-%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%90%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%99%E0%B6%BA%E0%B7%92/11-611686 23 7