Sri Lankan police carried out searches at the office of the Frontline Socialist Party here on Friday as the new government led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe widens its crackdown on anti-government parties and activists.
The new Sri Lankan government’s clampdown has also included arrests of some leading activists accused of creating unrest in the country which is grappling with the worst economic crisis.
“A group of people in civilian clothes walked into our office and searched all over our premises. They didn’t have a search warrant and only one of them was wearing a police uniform,” said Duminda Nagamuva, the party spokesman.
Later, another police team arrived to do another search, he said, terming it “clear state repression”. The Frontline Socialist Party is a communist party. It was launched in April 2012 by dissident members of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.
IMF talks resume
Sri Lanka has resumed technical discussions with the IMF on a potential bailout after a new government took office, the finance ministry said on Friday. The government hopes to secure an Extended Fund Facility, which would be conditional on making economic reforms.
