Members of the army take part in a military parade during a rehearsal ahead of Sri Lanka's 75th Independence Day celebrations in Colombo, Sri Lanka on February 2, 2023. (Photo by Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters)





Air Force fighter jets participate in a rehearsal ahead of Sri Lanka's 75th Independence Day celebrations in Colombo, Sri Lanka on February 2, 2023. (Photo by Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters)





Sri Lankan army paratroopers crash land into the Indian ocean during the 75th Independence Day ceremony in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, February 4, 2023. Sri Lanka marks the anniversary of independence from British colonial rule on Feb. 4 each year. (Photo by Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo)





Sri Lanka army women's corp soldiers march during the 75th Independence Day ceremony in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, February 4, 2023. (Photo by Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo)





Sri Lankan government soldiers march carrying national flags during the 75th Independence Day ceremony in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, February 4, 2023. (Photo by Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo)





Sri Lanka army commando regiment soldiers march during the 75th Independence Day ceremony in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, February 4, 2023. (Photo by Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo)





Sri Lanka army women's corp soldiers march during the 75th Independence Day ceremony in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, February 4, 2023. (Photo by Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo)





Traditional dancers perform during the annual Nawam Maha Perahera of Gangaramaya Buddhist temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka on February 5, 2023. (Photo by Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters)





A Sri Lankan Buddhist monk scuffles with policemen outside the parliament during a protest against president Ranil Wickremesinghe's policy speech at the parliament in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Wickremesinghe on Wednesday appealed for patience amid the country's worst economic crisis but promised brighter times ahead. (Photo by Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo)





A group of hardline Buddhist monks and anti-government demonstrators scuffle with police near the parliament during a protest against the President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s plan to devolve powers to minority Tamils under the country’s 13th amendment in Colombo on February 8, 2023. (Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP Photo)





Sri Lankan Buddhist monks protest against the complete implementation of the 13th constitutional amendment as a solution to long-standing ethnic issues, near the parliament main entrance road, Colombo, Sri Lanka on February 8, 2023. (Photo by Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters)





A Sri Lankan fisherman tries to push back stranded pilot whales into the deep water in the northwestern coast of Kudawa on February 11, 2023. Eleven pilot whales were saved on February 11 after beaching on Sri Lanka's western coast in the early hours, wildlife officials told AFP. (Photo by AFP Photo/Stringer)





An employee works inside the D.P.L Premier gloves factory in Sri Lanka's Free Trade Zone in Biyagama on February 16, 2023. (Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP Photo)





A man looks at bakery items kept in a mobile three-wheeler bakery near Wish Bakers shop, after the government announced a hike in power prices by 66%, in Colombo, Sri Lanka on February 18, 2023. (Photo by Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters)





Supporters of Sri Lanka's main opposition stand blocking road traffic after police stopped their march to protest against the postponement of local government election in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, February 20, 2023. (Photo by Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo)





Activists of the opposition National Peoples Power (NPP) party take part in a protest held to urge the government to hold local council election as scheduled in Colombo on February 26, 2023. (Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP Photo)





Members of Sri Lankan opposition political party National People's Power carry an injured Buddhist monk during a clash with police in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, February 26, 2023. The opposition supporters were protesting over a decision to postpone local elections after the government said it cannot finance the same because of the country's crippling economic crisis. (Photo by Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo)





Members of Sri Lankan opposition political party National People's Power carry an injured Buddhist monk during a clash with police in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, February 26, 2023. The opposition supporters were protesting over a decision to postpone local elections after the government said it cannot finance the same because of the country's crippling economic crisis. (Photo by Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo)





Police fire tear gas to disperse activists of the opposition National People's Power (NPP) party during a protest held to urge the government to hold local council election as scheduled in Colombo on February 26, 2023. (Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP Photo)





Policewoman stand guard as anti-government demonstrators take part in a protest organised by the “Women for Rights” group on the occasion of International Women's Day against the proposed tax reforms and the country's economic crisis, near the parliament building in Colombo on March 8, 2023. (Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP Photo)