Colombo, April 1 : 45 people have been arrested by the police in connection with the late night protests outside Sri Lankan Presidesidence on Thuent Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private rrsday night. Police officials confirmed that due to the violent protests one police bus, one police jeep, two motorbikes were burnt and one water cannon truck was also damaged. Protests have spread in the island nation over the last few weeks, due to severe crisis characterised by acute shortages of food, cooking gas and fuel. Power cuts have added to the people’s woes and sky rocketing costs have augmented public resentment. Yesterday night riot police had to be deployed to control the protesters, they used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. Protesters chanted “Gota go home” many were holding posters with anti-government slogans, and demanded that the government step down as it has “mishandled” the nation’s economy. More than 5,000 people are believed to have participated in yesterday night’s protest in the capital near the President’s house demanding that he step down, the protestors clashed with the police. The paramilitary police t, a Special Task Force, had to be called in to quell the protests. RKM