Sri Lanka’s problems come down to the fact that its foreign currency reserves have virtually run dry. The country is heavily reliant on imports, but can no longer afford to pay for staple foods and fuel.

The government blames the Covid pandemic, which all but killed off Sri Lanka’s tourist trade – one of its biggest foreign currency earners – but in reality poor fiscal management, embezzlement and rash decisions like banning chemical fertilizers without trial and therefore without knowing this would decimate the harvest have each played their roles.  A dry year hasn’t helped either as much electricity normally comes from hydro generation but the reservoirs for this purpose are now empty.    

Therefore since March, people in Sri Lanka have been protesting against the situation and demanding the president and the prime minister to resign. Peaceful protests in lots of different locations across the island and Colombo have been held and very well organised with the support of donations from all over the world, with the main one in front of the Port City and Old Parliament Building & President’s office.  Singing, dancing, talking and noisy broadcasts have been the main fillers of long days in tents and outdoors. 

No action has been seen from the politicians and it looks like they are ignorant to the situation to carry on as usual.

We are in a very fortunate position including that the apartment tower in which we live has a powerful generator – and until now at least, sufficient fuel with which to run it for hours every day – but we feel deeply for the vast majority who are not so fortunate.   There are some disturbance to our lives such erratic staple food supplies, the school bus not running and no fuel for a weekend away but these are minor issues in the scheme of things.

However, on Monday 9th May about lunch time, things got out of hand, when pro Rajapaksas paid villagers to invade the peaceful protest with violence. It left 7 dead and about 200 injured, the buses they travelled to the city in burned out and some pushed by buses owned by protesters in to Beira lake.

I was with an acquaintance in a hotel opposite the main camp, initially oblivious to what was unfolding as we nattered and enjoyed coffee.  When I heard the commotion I didn’t believe my eyes. Men with sticks were destroying the camp, attacking peaceful protesters, setting fires and chasing people away. We watched for a few minutes then started to think what to do. We needed to get out. “No madam, it is unsafe to get out at the moment” the manager said.  Seeing all the doors locked with heavy chains made me realise how serious this situation was.

They moved us and other guests further inside into another part of the hotel and put blinds onto all the windows.  An SMS came to ask me to collect the kids from school.  “No chance. They are safe at school”, I thought.  “I will leave them there as long as I can to buy myself time to make a plan. After-school clubs are until 15.45, so hopefully it will calm down by then”.  This is what I hoped.

I knew Misa and Emilka will know something is up as some of their classmates will be leaving, so I needed to let them know. Misa actually called me from the washroom to discuss the plan with me. Our dear friend Rajeev, who works opposite the school, would collect and keep them for a few hours until things calmed down and bring them to me once his work was finished.

Great, I could go and have something to eat with my friend as we had not eaten all day. It was about 3pm. The kids were already with Rajeev by then as the after school clubs were cancelled and the school bus was not running (I was not surprised at all, in situations like this they like us to take the children from the premises ourselves). We asked one friend, who lived in residencies adjacent to the Hotel and with a good view, to check the situation.   It was still unsafe to walk. 

Another friend’s driver therefore took me home once he reached the same residencies with her and her 5 years old daughter, having travelled for nearly 4 hours to get her from preschool and back. He dropped me home about 5.30pm and took my friend home too. A saviour to be honest; I bake cakes for my friend and she lends me her driver. It is a fair exchange!

I had noodle soup in the fridge and made cheese on toast, waiting for the hungry kids  dropped by Rajeev. He didn’t want to risk driving on the main road as it would mean coming past the prime minister’s official residence that is very close to where we live; it was barricaded by protestors and later a fire started.

I had to walk through the protest to collect the kids from him, and then the same to return with them – heart racing as you can imagine and not looking left or right, just walking fast-paced with one aim; get us home safely. We did it and felt huge relief when we got home, sweaty and hungry. We all had shower and dinner, discussing what has happened that day and what it means for Sri Lanka.

Steve is in the UK on business and called us in the evening to check on us as he heard what happened, having been busy with a conference all day. 

So what is happening now?

School is online from that day for time being. How long for, we shall see.  The kids need face to face school.  A curfew is imposed for each night for 12-16 hours. Freedom is taken, again how long for?  Food is further depleting in the shops.  Scary actually; I went shopping the other day and it was like after the war, I nearly cried.

Everything else is closed for now, however tourists are welcome and can do whatever they wish, bigger establishments such as hotels are open.  Bizarre.  Fuel is even less available and if there is any, you wait even longer for it. Dreadful.

Protests at the main place continue peacefully despite the curfew, but I do not know what their plan or next move is. I just hope they are heard.  We are at home and waiting how it unfolds. Online deliveries are the best and safest way to shop these days.