Sri Lanka is scrambling to deal with the escalating crisis in the country, which is witnessing widespread protests, arson and looting. Angered by the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities and uncontrollable inflation for months, protesters took to the streets demanding the resignation of their President and Prime Minister.
The leaders, who attended an emergency meeting called by the Speaker this evening, demanded that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe resign from his post and also resign as acting president. They demanded that the Speaker should take over as the interim President.
Protests turned violent last Saturday, when protesters stormed the homes and offices of the president and prime minister and set their homes on fire. Thousands surrounded the presidential palace, while videos showed many of them swimming in pools inside the complex, holding wrestling matches on the president’s bedside and cooking in the kitchen.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today fled the country without resigning from his post.
Here are the top developments from the day:
Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency today as angry protesters stormed the prime minister’s office in Colombo, hours after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives on a military jet, crippling the country’s worst economic crisis in decades. was. Indefinite curfew has been imposed to curb the militant movement.
73-year-old Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who promised to resign today, appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting president before flying off with his wife and security with full approval from the Defense Ministry, triggering a fresh wave of protests Went. Rajapaksa, who is exempt from prosecution while he was president, fled before resigning to avoid the prospect of arrest by the new government.
Sources in the Maldivian capital Male told news agency PTI that talks were held by the Speaker of Maldivian Majlis (Parliament) and former President Mohamed Nasheed for Rajapaksa’s escape to the Maldives. The Maldivian government argues that Rajapaksa is still the President of Sri Lanka, and has not resigned or delegated his powers to a successor. So, if he wanted to travel to Maldives, it could not be ruled out, news agency PTI quoted sources as saying.
Although the Maldivian government is yet to make an official statement, Maldivian National Party (MNP) leader and former Maldivian Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon said it was very disappointing that the Maldivian government did not care about the sentiments of the Sri Lankans. , Director of Communications at the Parliament Secretariat, Hassan Jiau, said Parliament was not aware of the matter.
As soon as the news of Rajapaksa’s arrival in the Maldivian capital Male, Sri Lankans living on the island began to protest. Video footage showed protests in Male carrying placards carrying the Sri Lankan national flag and anti-government slogans, demanding that Gotabaya Rajapaksa be sent back to Sri Lanka.
Back in Sri Lanka, thousands, waving the Lankan flag, defied the emergency and surrounded the prime minister’s office. Police fired tear gas at protesters, who broke through a barricade and stormed the Prime Minister’s Office demanding his resignation. Wickremesinghe said he was concerned with the inputs received from intelligence services.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his first televised statement since taking office as interim president, declared a nationwide emergency and imposed a curfew in the city and surrounding areas. “We must put an end to this fascist threat to democracy. We cannot allow destruction of state property. The President’s Office, the President’s Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s official residence must be returned to proper custody,” he said.
Wickremesinghe said a committee of chiefs of the armed forces has been given the responsibility of restoring normalcy and has ensured zero political interference in the decisions of the forces. However, this further angered anti-government protesters, who demanded both the president and the prime minister a way out of the crumbling economy. Sri Lanka’s Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) has appealed to the protesters to support the administration and maintain peace in the country. Addressing a press conference with the Chief of the Air Staff and the Navy Chief, the CDS asked the protesters to remain calm and help the armed forces maintain law and order.
Sri Lanka’s state-run television channel – Roopvahini – suspended broadcasting for some time this afternoon as protesters stormed its building. Another state television channel shut down less than an hour after Roopvahini suspended all live and recorded broadcasts.
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka has urged protesters to hand over all occupied premises to government officials and allow space for the peaceful transition of power the country’s leaders have promised.
Also read: | How Sri Lanka got into trouble Explained
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