The UN urges the parties to engage in dialogue to guarantee the transition of Government in Sri Lanka

July 11 (EUROPA PRESS) –

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on the parties to engage in dialogue to ensure a smooth transition of government and find sustainable solutions to the economic crisis in Sri Lanka.

“The secretary-general condemns all acts of violence and calls for those responsible to be held accountable, stressing the paramount importance of maintaining peace. The United Nations stands ready to support Sri Lanka and its people,” said his spokesman, Farhan Haq, in a statement.

This Saturday thousands of people demonstrated in Colombo and other Sri Lankan cities to protest against the president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, after months of mobilizations. Protesters stormed the official presidential residence, culminating months of demonstrations.

Previous information from the President of Parliament, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, suggested that the head of state had fled the island, although, in statements to the Asian agency ANI, he later acknowledged that he was wrong during his interview with the British BBC, where he had stated that he was on board a warship outside the country’s territorial waters.

Thus, the President of Parliament has confirmed, as reported by the local media, that both Rajapaksa and the current Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, are in Sri Lankan territory.

Rajapaksa confirmed to Wickremesinghe on Monday that he will resign from office next Wednesday, at a time when the country is the scene of protests due to rising prices and lack of food, medicine and fuel.

Now, the Sri Lankan Parliament must elect a new president on July 20, as announced by one of the government ministers Prasanna Ranatunga and reported by the NewsWire news portal, although it is true that Wickremesinghe must take the oath as president of the country for a limited period .

In this context, the island nation is immersed in what is its worst economic crisis since it became independent from the United Kingdom in 1948. In fact, this Monday there are long queues in the streets of the capital, where citizens wait to visit the now abandoned home of Rajapaksa.