Protesters demonstrating over living costs hit with tear gas and water cannon

A supporter of Sri Lanka’s main opposition covers his face as police fire water cannons to disperse protesters Picture: AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena

Sri Lanka’s police used tear gas and water cannons on Tuesday to disperse an opposition protest in the island nation facing its worst economic crisis while gearing up for a national election later this year.

Protesters from the main opposition United People’s Power party gathered in the capital, Colombo, and accused President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s administration of overburdening citizens by increasing taxes, as well as hiking prices for electricity and fuel, causing a sharp spike in living costs.