1.2 A pattern of state violence to peaceful protest 1.2.1 State violence on 30 and 31 March 2022 On the evening of 30 March 2022, protestors gathered outside the residence of the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, demanding his resignation. Curfew was imposed overnight as protestors continued to demand his resignation.By late night on 30th, protestors were pushing against barricades set up in front of the residence and pelting stones at the police. Police statements after the event alleged that the protestors were armed with steel bars, sticks and sharp weapons.4 Police also alleged that two buses and a four-wheel drive were set on fire. Police responded with tear gas and water cannon. 54 persons were arrested5 including journalists covering the event. Those arrested were assaultedthat night during and after their arrests6. Media reports carried images of the injuries sustained by journalists due to police assault.7 Some also had their cameras smashed by police batons. Reports of journalists being hit on the head by police with batons have also emerged.8 The President’s media division attempted to cast aspersions on the protestors by stating that extremists were behind the protests and the police also commenced investigations into major media outlets in an attempt to pin the blame on the media for inciting violence.9 On 31 March, lawyers gathered in large numbers at the Mirihana Police station to provide legal assistance to those arrested. Several of those arrested were hospitalizedas a consequence of being assaulted during and after their arrests. Those arrested were produced before the Magistrate late afternoon on charges including causing damage to public property. By this time video footage had emerged of police officers in riot gear standing idle while a man sets fire a to a bus, giving rise to the speculation that the police themselves incited violence at a largely peaceful gathering. On Saturday the 2nd of April, soon after the President declared a state of emergency in the country giving powers of arrest and detention to the military, a 28-year old social media activist was taken from his home and the police initially denied knowledge of his whereabouts. He was produced in Al Jazeera. 31 March 2022. “Dozens arrested in Sri Lanka amid protests over worsening economy”. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/31/tear-gas-as-sri-lanka-protesters-try-to-storm-presidents-house 5 Daily News. 1 April 2022. “Mirihana Protest: 54 arrested”. https://www.dailynews.lk/2022/04/01/local/276300/ mirihana-protest-54-arrested. 6 JDS. 2 April 2022. “Journalists reporting protest to oust Sri Lanka president beaten up 'black and blue'”. http://www.jdslanka.org/index.php/news-features/media/1082-journalists-reporting-protest-to-oust-sri-lankapresident-beaten-up-black-and-blue 7 RSF. “At least nine journalists injured during Sri Lanka protests”. https://rsf.org/en/least-nine-journalists-injured-during-sri-lanka-protests. IFJ. 4 April 2022. “Sri Lanka: Several journalists assaulted and detained during Mirihana protests”. https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/ category/press-releases/article/sri-lanka-several-journalists-assaulted-and-detained-during-mirihana-protests.html 8 Global Voices. 17 May 2022. “Covering the economic crisis in Sri Lanka: The cost of pursuing journalism”. https://globalvoices.org/2022/05/17/covering-the-economic-crisis-in-sri-lanka-the-cost-of-pursuing-journalism/ 9 Global Voices. 17 May 2022. 4 4