epa10004297 Security forces fire tear gas to disperse an anti government protest rally in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 09 June 2022. Protests have been rocking the country for over nearly two months, calling for the resignation of the president over the alleged failure to address the economic crisis. Sri Lanka faces its worst-ever economic crisis in decades due to the lack of foreign reserves, resulting in severe shortages in food, fuel, medicine, and imported goods. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epa10004284 An anti government protester reacts at the tear gas smoke during clashes with security forces at an anti government protest rally in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 09 June 2022. Protests have been rocking the country for over nearly two months, calling for the resignation of the president over the alleged failure to address the economic crisis. Sri Lanka faces its worst-ever economic crisis in decades due to the lack of foreign reserves, resulting in severe shortages in food, fuel, medicine, and imported goods. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epaselect epa09970973 People wait to buy fuel at a gas station amid a fuel shortage in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 24 May 2022. Sri Lanka raised petrol prices by 24.3 percent and diesel by 38.4 percent on May 24 amid the country's worst economic crisis in decades due to the lack of foreign exchange, resulting in severe shortages in food, fuel, medicine, and imported goods. Protests have been rocking the country for weeks, calling for the resignation of the president and government over the alleged failure to address the worsening current economic crisis. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epa09939542 Armed military personnel patrol during an island-wide curfew amid political unrest in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 11 May 2022. According to police, at least nine people died, over 200 were injured, and dozens of vehicles and houses were torched during an unrest that broke out over the last two days between government supporters and detractors. Protests have been rocking the country for weeks, calling for governmental authorities’ resignations over the alleged failure to address the current economic crisis. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epa09937606 Vehicles that were torched during clashes between government supporters and anti governmental protesters are left behind in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 10 May 2022. According to police, at least seven people died, more than 220 people were injured and dozens of vehicles and houses were torched during political unrest that broke out in Sri Lanka on 09 May during which the government enforced an island-wide curfew. Protests have been rocking the country for weeks, calling for the resignation of the president and the government over the alleged failure to address the current economic crisis. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epa09900173 Relatives of victims and survivors of the 2019 Easter Sunday attack light candles during the third anniversary commemoration at the St. Anthony’s church at Kochchikade in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 21 April 2022. This day marks the third anniversary of a terrorist attack that saw three churches and three luxury hotels targeted in Colombo in a series of coordinated suicide bombings that killed more than 250 people including 45 foreigners while injuring over 500 people. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epa09878587 University students offer a flower to police officers during protest, calling for the resignation of the president over the alleged failure to address the economic crisis, outside the Parliamentary complex in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 08 April 2022. Protests across the country are demanding that the president resign, accusing him of failing to address the current economic crisis. Sri Lanka faces its worst economic crisis in decades due to the lack of foreign exchange, resulting in severe shortages in food, fuel, medicine, and imported goods. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epa09878561 University students clash with the police during a protest, calling for the resignation of the president over the alleged failure to address the economic crisis, outside the Parliamentary complex in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 08 April 2022. Protests across the country are demanding that the president resign, accusing him of failing to address the current economic crisis. Sri Lanka faces its worst economic crisis in decades due to the lack of foreign exchange, resulting in severe shortages in food, fuel, medicine, and imported goods. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epaselect epa09647660 A slow shutter speed image shows Sri Lankan Buddhist devotees praying during a religious observance on a full moon day at a temple in the Kelaniya suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 18 December 2021. Buddhism is the official religion of the South Asian island nation and the majority of the island's population traditionally engages in religious observances on full moon days. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epaselect epa09826870 A pyre lit by members and supporters of Sri Lanka's opposition party alliance, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (United People's Power) dies down while Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel guard the entrance to the Presidential Secretariat at Galle Face in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 15 March 2022. The opposition in Parliament headed by MP Sajith Premadasa staged a protest march towards Colombo demanding that the incumbent government go home after handing over power to the opposition. The island nation has been severely hit by the lack of foreign exchange, resulting in severe shortages in food, fuel, and imported goods. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epa09448671 A Sri Lankan vendor arranges vegetables at a wholesale market in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 05 September 2021. Sri Lankan authorities have authorized the operation of wholesale markets for vegetables, fruits and other essential commodities to prevent a shortage of essential food in the country. The Sri Lankan government has extended an island-wide lockdown until 13 September 2021 as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The Indian Ocean island nation is currently in the midst of the third wave of COVID-19 and the number of cases is increasing day by day. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epaselect epa08064905 A Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) basking under the sun on the rocks of the beach at Bambalapitiya in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 12 December 2019. Sightings of Southern Elephant Seals or any species of seals have not been recorded around the seas of Sri Lanka before, according to wildlife authorities. But since November 2019 they have been sighted first on the beaches of the island's southern coast and later closer to Colombo as well. Since seals are a rare sight in the tropical island nation large crowds gathered at each sighting place, prompting authorities and even the Sri Lanka Navy to request people to keep their distance and not disturb the animals. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epa08144418 Younger and older pairs of twins at the official attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of twins held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 20 January 2020. Sri Lanka attempts to break the Guinness world record for the largest gathering of twins with 5,000 pairs. The existing record was established in Taiwan in 1999 with a gathering of 4,003 pairs. There are 14,000 pairs of twins in the island registered with the organisation. The event will be followed by a concert performed exclusively by twins with the highlight being a performance by an 80-member orchestra made up of twins. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epaselect epa08737258 Commuters undergo COVID-19 swab tests at the fort main railway station amid of the coronavirus pandemic in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 12 October 2020. Sri Lankan government implement a curfew in some parts of the country due to a sudden spike of the Covid-19 cluster from a textiles factory in the Gampaha District. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epa09244357 A man holds a dead fish with a mouth filled with granules of plastic raw materials from the burnt ship MV X-Press Pearl on the beach of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 31 May 2021 (issued 03 June 2021). The fire on the Singaporean flagged container cargo vessel MV X-Press Pearl was doused and the salvage company began towing it towards deeper seas off the coast of Colombo on 02 June. However, the Sri Lanka Navy stated that the towing operation was halted as the stern of the ship was striking the seabed. Sri Lankan marine and coastal protection authorities warned about an environmental crisis as tonnes of plastic waste and pellets from the ship keep washing ashore. The island's Fisheries Ministry urged fishermen not to venture out to seas in the 80 km stretch along the western coast. Authorities such as the Marine Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) are concerned over possible threats to the fish-breeding shallow waters of lagoons dotting the area, which is well known for its crabs and jumbo prawns as well as for its tourist beaches. MEPA is assessing the possible impacts on the mangroves, lagoons and marine wildlife in the region, while a possible oil leak would add to the devastation. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epaselect epa09230871 Sri Lanka Navy personnel wearing protective clothing collect and clear the beach areas from debris and other materials from damaged containers on the burning cargo vessel MV X-Press Pearl, off the coast of Negombo, 31 kms northwest of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 27 May 2021. A fire broke out in Singapore-flagged container vessel MV X-Press Pearl anchored about 9.5 nautical miles (18km) northwest of Colombo awaiting entry into the port six days ago. The Sri Lanka Navy said an explosion caused by chemicals being transported on the ship, including 25 tonnes of nitric acid and other chemicals loaded at the port of Hazira, India on 15 May. The 25-member crew including Philippine, Chinese, Indian and Russian nationals were evacuated by the Navy on 25 May, while two injured members were hospitalized and one was tested positive for Covid-19 on 26 May. Several containers tumbled into the sea and Chairperson of Sri Lanka’s Maritime Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) Dharshani Lahandapura warned the public not to touch any items that would be washed ashore between Colombo and Negombo, as the contents could be toxic and harmful, but the warning went unheeded with residents along the beach area salvaging whatever they found washed ashore, irrespective of their consequences. The Sri Lanka Navy took the initiative to prevent this as they began the clearing up operations on the beaches. Eight persons thus collecting sundry items on the beach were arrested by police last evening, according to the police spokesman. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epaselect epa09228450 Sri Lankan beach dwellers scavenge the shore for materials from the burning ship MV X-Press Pearl washing ashore in the Kepungoda, northwest of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 26 May 2021. A fire broke out on the Singapore-flagged container vessel MV X-Press Pearl anchored about 9.5 nautical miles (18km) northwest of Colombo awaiting entry into the port. The Sri Lanka Navy said the explosion was caused by chemicals being transported on the ship carrying over 1,000 containers, including 25 tonnes of nitric acid and other chemicals from the port of Hazira, India. The 25-member crew were evacuated by the Navy on 25 May, while two injured members were hospitalized and one was tested positive for Covid-19. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epaselect epa08638931 A young Sri Lankan Buddhist devotee wets lotus flowers at a fountain during religious observances on a full moon day at a temple in the Kelaniya suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 01 September 2020. Buddhists constitute the majority of the country's population and take part, as per customs, in religious observances on full moon days. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epa08515952 A cinema staff member sprays disinfectant inside the Savoy cinema hall in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 29 June 2020.The Sri Lankan government has lifted the island-wide curfew on 28 June and is preparing for a full reopening of businesses and activities to avoid an economic slump. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epaselect epa09012462 Sri Lankan children's play with soap bubbles at the Galle Face sea promenade in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 14 February 2021 EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epa08976610 A health worker received the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Police Hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 31 January 2021. Sri Lankan health authorities started the COVID-19 vaccination drive for frontline workers on 29 January, after receiving 500,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from neighboring India. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epa09791174 A Ukrainian woman weeps during a protest against Russia's military operation in Ukraine, in front of the Russian embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 28 February 2022. Russian troops entered Ukraine on 24 February prompting the country's president to declare martial law and triggering a series of announcements by Western countries to impose severe economic sanctions on Russia. According to the island's tourism officials, Russians accounted for 18,044 or 15.8 percent of the total 113,670 holiday makers who visited Sri Lanka in 2022 up to 11 February, while Ukrainians accounted for 9,883 or 8.7 percent of the total visitors in the same period. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epaselect epa08374490 A relatives of an Easter Sunday 2019 suicide bomb attack victim prays on the anniversary of the attack, at the St. Sebastian's church, in Katuwapitiya, Sri Lanka, 21 April 2020. This year the 21 April marks the first anniversary of a terrorist attack that saw three churches and three luxury hotels targeted in Colombo, in series of coordinated suicide bombings. The bombings killed more than 250 people. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epaselect epa08368731 A group of homeless people wash themselves before being transported to a quarantine center during an island-wide curfew, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 17 April 2020. The Sri Lankan government has implemented an island-wide curfew until further notice in order to slow down the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 disease. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epa08276549 A Sri Lanka Army commando soldier takes part in a drill rehearsal simulating a hostage rescue operation at a luxury hotel building in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 07 March 2020. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

epa09759967 Sri Lankan traditional dancers perform during the annual Buddhist cultural pageant at the historic Gangaramaya Buddhist temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 15 February 2022. The annual Navam Perahera is an elegant religious and cultural pageant held every year in the month of February at the Gangarama Buddhist Temple in Colombo. EPA-EFE/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE