Sri Lanka's escalating political turmoil reached a critical moment on July 13, 2022, as protesters stormed the state-run Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), forcing the national TV network off air during a live broadcast. The incident followed the government's declaration of a nationwide state of emergency amid growing unrest over the country's worst economic crisis in decades.
Video footage captured by CGTN contributors shows crowds breaching security barriers outside the broadcaster's Colombo headquarters, with demonstrators demanding accountability from officials. The interruption temporarily halted SLRC's programming – a rare disruption to government-controlled media in the island nation.
The protests come as Sri Lanka faces severe shortages of fuel, medicine, and essential goods, with inflation exceeding 50% in June. Many protesters blame government mismanagement for the crisis that has left millions struggling to afford basic necessities.
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Sri Lanka's national TV network goes off air as protests intensify
cgtn.com
