Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since 1948
Colombo:
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.
In a Gazette notification, Rajapaksa said the emergency rule ordinance would stand revoked as of midnight on April 5.
Earlier in the day, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ruling coalition lost its majority in parliament on Tuesday after at least 41 lawmakers walked out of the alliance amid growing unrest over an economic crisis
Sri Lanka’s opposition yesterday dismissed President Rajapaksa’s invitation to join a unity government as “nonsensical” and instead demanded he resigns over the country’s worsening shortages of food, fuel and medicines.
Mr Rajapaksa’s overture came as armed troops looked to quell more demonstrations over what the government acknowledges is the country’s worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948.
Every member of Sri Lanka’s cabinet except the president and his elder brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, resigned late Sunday.
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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.
In a Gazette notification, Rajapaksa said the emergency rule ordinance would stand revoked as of midnight on April 5.
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University students are marching in rain to the home of Sri Lanka’s Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo
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Amid the unprecedented economic crisis in Sri Lanka, the leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa has called for abolishing the Executive Presidential system.
“For nearly 20 years every leader promised to abolish the Executive Presidency but only strengthened it,” Premadasa said in a strongly-worded speech in parliament on Tuesday reminding the Parliamentarians about the necessity to introduce a new electoral system.
Newly-appointed Finance Minister Ali Sabry resigns
Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister, Ali Sabry, resigned today a day after being sworn in, amid growing public unrest over a worsening economic crisis.
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ruling coalition lost its majority in parliament on Tuesday after at least 41 lawmakers walked out of the alliance amid growing unrest over an economic crisis, according to parliamentary proceedings.
China has reportedly refused to respond to Sri Lanka’s appeal to reschedule its huge debts, and its Ambassador to Sri Lanka said in March that his country was keener on considering a further USD 1 billion loans and USD 1.5 billion credit line.
Sri Lankan police have warned protesters not to take the law in their own hands and said strict action will be taken against those involved in violence during the agitations.
The police arrested several protesters on Monday night and said they are relying on scientific and video footage to nab violators in the coming days.
Deputy Parliament Speaker Ranjith Siyambalapitiya resigns
Deputy Parliament Speaker Ranjith Siyambalapitiya resigned on Tuesday as the Parliament reconvened for the first time after the state of emergency was declared in the country
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Tuesday that it is monitoring political and economic developments in Sri Lanka “very closely” as public unrest in the island nation grows amid its worst economic crisis in decades.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday dissolved the cabinet and appointed a new finance minister, while also seeking a new central bank governor.
Several protests are taking place in different parts of Sri Lanka against the Rajapaksa government. A large number of protests gathered on Galle Road in Colombo city today and raised slogans against the government of the island nation.
An emergency health situation has been declared in Sri Lanka from Tuesday because of the severe drug shortage in the country.
This decision was announced after an emergency general committee meeting of the country’s Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) to discuss the imposition of the emergency law and the severe drug shortage, the Daily Mirror reported.
Sri Lanka’s opposition on Monday dismissed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s invitation to join a unity government as “nonsensical” and instead demanded he resign over the country’s worsening shortages of food, fuel and medicines.
Rajapaksa’s overture came as armed troops looked to quell more demonstrations over what the government acknowledges is the country’s worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948.