Sri Lanka deploys troops in capital after violence and protests

Sri Lankan army soldiers patrol during curfew in Colombo, Sri Lanka (Eranga Jayawardena/AP)

Sri Lankan authorities have deployed armoured vehicles and troops in the streets of the capital Colombo, two days after pro-government mobs attacked peaceful protesters, triggering a wave of violence across the country.

Security forces have been ordered to shoot those deemed to be participating in the violence, as sporadic acts of arson and vandalism continued despite a strict nationwide curfew that began on Monday evening.