Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa revoked the emergency rule ordinance that had gone into effect on April 1 yesterday as protests spread in the island country amid the nation's worst economic crisis in decades.
Earlier on Tuesday, Sri Lanka's President lost his parliamentary majority as former allies urged his resignation.
Severe shortages of food, fuel and other essentials -- along with record inflation and crippling power cuts -- have inflicted widespread misery in the country's most painful downturn since 1948.
Massive protests reflect public anger which is at a fever pitch in the country of 22 million.
Public anger is at a fever pitch, with crowds attempting to storm the homes of several government figures since the weekend and large demonstrations elsewhere. Students were seen marching towards the Prime Minister's house in rain this evening.
Here are the LIVE updates on Sri Lanka Crisis:
The economic crisis looming over Sri Lanka did not happen over the last few months, rather the foundation was laid way back in 2010. But such a breakdown of the economy of a neighbour can impact India as well. Arun Singh explains in 'Just A Minute'.
In 2020, Mahinda Rajapaksa won elections to become Sri Lanka's prime minister, serving under his brother and president Gotabaya. In 2021, another sibling, Basil, was named finance minister, tightening the family's hold on power.
Less than a year later, the country's pre-eminent political dynasty is in trouble, as protesters take to the streets making demands that would have been unthinkable before the economic crisis struck: that the president steps down.
"Gota go home!" hundreds of people chanted along a leafy boulevard in Sri Lanka's commercial capital Colombo this week as cars drove past, honking their horns in support.
From beachside towns in the south to the Tamil-speaking north, more than 100 demonstrations have broken out across the island nation since last week, according to the WatchDog research collective.
Sri Lanka Crisis: Sri Lanka's Army and the police publicly clashed on Tuesday night after soldiers armed with assault rifles drove through a crowd of protesters in capital Colombo, amid intensifying anti-government demonstrations in the country.
Amidst the unprecedented economic crisis in Sri Lanka, Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando on Wednesday informed Parliament that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will not resign and will face the current issues."As a responsible government, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will not resign under any circumstances," Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said.Fernando said that the President will not resign as he was elected to office, reported Colombo Gazette.
Sri Lanka's ongoing political turmoil triggered by the country's unprecedented economic crisis can be ended with a snap election, veteran left-wing politician Vasudeva Nanayakkara said on Wednesday, emphasising that there must be a government with everyone participating in it for at least 6 months before the polls are held.
Democratic Left Front politician Nanayakkara was among the 42 members who declared independence in Parliament from the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) coalition.
- Finance Minister Ali Sabry resigned a day after his appointment and ahead of crucial talks scheduled with the International Monetary Fund for a loan programme.
- The UN Human Rights Council said it was closely watching the deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka, which is already facing international censure over its human rights record.
- The cash-strapped country has decided to temporarily shut its embassies in Norway and Iraq, as well as the country's Consulate General in Sydney.
A group of masked soldiers with assault rifles drove through the crowd on unmarked bikes at a protest near Parliament, triggering outrage on social media. This led to a confrontation between the armed soldiers and police officials, prompting Defence Chief Shavendra Silva to call for an inquiry.
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa late Tuesday night revoked the state of emergency he had declared on April 1 with immediate effect, even as the government struggled to quell protests amid the nation's worst economic crisis in decades.
The ruling coalition lost its majority in Parliament after at least 41 lawmakers walked out of the alliance, with former allies urging President Rajapaksa's resignation
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa late on Tuesday revoked the emergency rule ordinance that had gone into effect on April 1, even as the government struggled to quell protests amid the nation's worst economic crisis in decades. Latest Here
