Military raids Sri Lanka protest camps, leaders arrested

The military in Sri Lanka has taken control of the presidential secretariat in the capital after “brutally assaulting” the protesters.

Soldiers also destroyed tents at the adjacent GotaGoGama protest site, arrested several protest leaders and cordoned off the area together with about 100 protesters.

The military assault came hours after the protesters withdrew from the camp in front of Temple Trees, the prime minister’s official residence. The protesters had already announced their intention to withdraw from the presidential secretariat on July 22.