After ongoing protests against the severe economic crisis in Sri Lanka, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced his resignation. “To ensure a peaceful transition, the president has stated that he will resign on July 13,” parliament speaker Mahinda Abeywardana said in a televised address on Saturday. Rajapaksa had fled the presidential palace in the capital Colombo shortly before hundreds of protesters stormed the building.
The protesters had not been subdued by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s announcement that they would resign, and had pushed for the president’s resignation. Late in the evening they set fire to Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’s home, police said. However, he was not in the building.
The prime minister had previously told the speaker of parliament that he was ready to step down in favor of forming an all-party government. Wickremesinghe has only been in office since May, when his predecessor also resigned in the wake of the unrest.
Biggest crisis in decades
The island nation south of India with its approximately 22 million inhabitants is currently experiencing its worst economic crisis in decades. The protestors’ anger is directed at, among other things, a shortage of fuel, as well as medicines and food, which has existed for months. One reason for this is that tourism revenues, which are important to Sri Lanka, have collapsed in the wake of the corona pandemic. The heavily indebted country lacks the money to import important goods.
The government has asked the International Monetary Fund and several countries such as India, China and Russia for help. The UN Emergency Relief Office (OCHA) warned in June that the severe economic crisis could exacerbate a looming hunger crisis in Sri Lanka. The country had been on a good development path for ten years and did not need humanitarian aid from the UN.
Fuel delivery needs to be improved
On Friday, the government pledged to improve fuel supplies. She also imposed an indefinite curfew. However, under pressure from civil rights groups, lawyers and Buddhist monks who support the demonstrations, she withdrew the measure. Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena convened a meeting with party leaders to discuss the situation.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the president’s brother, resigned in May amid months of unrest. Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as his successor. At least nine people have been killed and more than 250 injured in protests, police said. In June, Basil Rajapaksa, another brother of the president, resigned as finance minister.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
