(VIDEO) Police attempt to deploy riot unit at GotaGoGama, Protestors force them back

COLOMBO (News 1st); A tense situation arose at GotaGoGama on Monday (2) mornign when police officers attempted to move in and remove a structure that was being set up at the protest site opposite the President's Office.

Protestors angered by the police attempt decided to obstruct the path of a police truck, and eventually force the truck to reverse back and leave.

As the country faces an economic crisis, Sri Lankans are exercising their freedom of speech and assembly to a degree unprecedented in the country’s history, and have been protesting for over three weeks outside the most powerful building in Colombo, the President's Office.

Protesters accuse the present government of corruption, nepotism, and authoritarianism, while leading the country into an economic abyss.

The main reason for the protests is the country’s dire economic crisis, the worst since Independence.