Anti government protesters scuffle with police officers as police blocked their protest march in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, November 2, 2022. The protestors were demanding the release of two detained protest leaders and to end the government’s crackdown on protests against an unprecedented economic crisis that has engulfed the island nation for months. (Photo by Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo)





Sri Lankan Buddhist devotees take part in a religious observance on a full moon day at a temple in the Kelaniya suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 07 November 2022. 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. (Photo by Chamila Karunarathne/EPA/EFE)





A Buddhist monk offers prayer during Poya a religious festival to mark the full moon, at the Kelaniya Buddhist temple in Kelaniya on November 7, 2022. (Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP Photo)





People gather at a street side food seller at a market place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, November 14, 2022. (Photo by Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo)





A street hawker waits for customers at a market place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, November 14, 2022. (Photo by Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo)





Street hawkers open up their business for the day at a market place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, November 14, 2022. (Photo by Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo)





A three-wheeler driver waits at a traffic signal near the main business city as Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced 2023 budget amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka on November 14, 2022. (Photo by Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters)





School girls hold hands while looking out at the Indian Ocean at Galle Face beach in Colombo on December 9, 2022. (Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP Photo)





Sri Lankan Catholic children reenact the Nativity scene during the Christmas Eve midnight mass at the Christ King Church in the Pannipitiya suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 25 December 2022. There are approximately 1.4 million Catholics in Sri Lanka, representing about 7.1 percent of the total population. (Photo by Hamila Karunarathne/EPA/EFE)





Two men perform on the Wall of Death on December 30, 2022, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Wall of Death is a spectacular show performed by circus people. They put on a show by riding motorcycles and bicycles in a makeshift wooden ring. Their performances are especially popular during the holiday season in cities. They present this scary show for about 20 minutes in this cylindrical circle about 25 feet high, and the people watching give them money. (Photo by Thilina Kaluthotage/NurPhoto via Getty Images)





Devotees light oil lamps while offering prayers during New Year's Day at a Hindu temple in Colombo on January 1, 2023. (Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP Photo)





Sri Lanka Navy personnel lowering the Galle Face Promenade national flag at sunset on January 1, 2023 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Navy takes on the daily hoisting and lowering duty of the national flag at Galle Face Promenade. (Photo by Thilina Kaluthotage/NurPhoto/Rex Features/Shutterstock)





A soldier stands in attention as the national flag is lowered as part of a daily ceremony at the Galle Face Green promenade in Colombo on January 13, 2023. (Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP Photo)





A mahout prepares to bathe an elephant near a fountain in a public park ahead of the annual Perahera festival at the Kelaniya Buddhist temple in Kelaniya on January 4, 2023. (Photo by Ishara S Kodikara/AFP Photo)





Anti-government demonstrators and university students scuffle with police during a protest demanding the release of Inter University Students' Federation leader Wasantha Mudalige, in Colombo on January 16, 2023. (Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP Photo)





An anti-government demonstrator throws back a tear gas canister fired by police during a protest demanding the release of Inter University Students' Federation leader Wasantha Mudalige, outside the United Nations (UN) office in Colombo on January 16, 2023. (Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP Photo)





Government doctors protest against newly introduced tax reforms, outside the president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, January 20, 2023. against newly introduced tax reforms, outside the president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. Sri Lanka has a total foreign debt of $51 billion and it must pay back $28 billion by 2027. However, the island nation announced it was suspending repayment of $7 billion that was due last year amid a serious foreign currency shortage. (Photo by Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo)





A wild elephant walks along the Trincomalee road in Habarana, Sri Lanka on January 22, 2023. (Photo by Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters)





Sri Lankan army parachute troopers take part in Independence Day parade rehearsal in Colombo on January 29, 2023. (Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP Photo)





Members of Sri Lanka ports' trade union stage an anti-government protest to propose tax reforms against country's economic crisis, outside the ports authority in Colombo on January 30, 2023. (Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP Photo)