In dramatic scenes today, protesters in Sri Lanka stormed the state-run TV Rupavahini and took over the broadcast.
The channel was taken off air soon after.
"Until the struggle is over, the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Cooperation will only telecast programs of the Jana Aragalaya," a protester said during a live broadcast. The National TV channel is now off-air. pic.twitter.com/jsIcdnEyUq
— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) July 13, 2022
Protestors storm Sri Lanka's national TV Rupavahini & broadcast their message. (There was even a sign language interpreter!)
— Rohini Mohan (@rohini_mohan) July 13, 2022
Now the channel has gone off air. A lawyer from #SriLanka sent this photo. pic.twitter.com/mfiqj8yXS1
" Rupavahini Tv should be unbiased media institution hereafter " A protestor who entered into the Sri Lanka National Television.#LKA #SriLanka #SriLankaCrisis pic.twitter.com/1XS6eEVtVW
— Sri Lanka Tweet (@SriLankaTweet) July 13, 2022
Protestors surrounded Rupavahini. #DailyMirror #SriLanka #SLnews pic.twitter.com/9UhfJKWTzW
— DailyMirror (@Dailymirror_SL) July 13, 2022
Earlier today, it was reported that security had been beefed up outside the TV network's office to "protect it from being stormed" after protesters demanded a "live broadcast".
Anger has spiralled in Sri Lanka after president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who had promised to resign, fled the country days after his residence was stormed by protesters. This was after Sri Lanka faced months of fuel shortages and an economic crisis.
According to the Hindu, Rajapaksa, who fled to the Maldives, authorised prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to carry out presidential duties. Rajapaksa is believed to have fled ahead of his resignation because, as president, he enjoys immunity from arrest.
Wickremesinghe accordingly declared a state of emergency across the island nation. Protesters were teargassed outside his house amid massive street protests. NDTV's crew in Sri Lanka was allegedly teargassed as well.
#SriLankaCrisis | NDTV crew teargassed amid massive street protests in Colombo, protesters help NDTV reporter
— NDTV (@ndtv) July 13, 2022
LIVE Updates: https://t.co/UDEq7QW0tN pic.twitter.com/1op1glx6jQ
To know more about how local journalists have been handling the crisis in Sri Lanka, read this Newslaundry piece.
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