Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe was sworn in today as interim president. The majority in Parliament could support it, but it would be an unacceptable decision for the protesters, who have presented their demands to all parties.
Colombo () – The official resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, accepted by the Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, has in all respects begun a new stage in Sri Lanka. Today Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as interim president, and he will hold office until parliament approves a new government within the next 30 days.
The two candidates who are likely to take over as the new head of state are Wickremesinghe and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa. The ruling party, which has the majority, could support the former prime minister, although for the moment it seems unlikely that the protesters will accept that solution.
The popular demonstrations that have been protesting for months in the capital Colombo and that on July 9 attacked and occupied the presidential palace have made a series of demands on all political parties, including the resignation of all government officials linked to the family. Rajapaksa, debt relief for farmers and small businesses, revision of the current tax system to increase direct taxes on businesses and reduce indirect taxes on citizens, release of detained protesters and a fair trial for families whose members have been killed or disappeared. The protesters are also calling for investigations into the crimes and thefts of the previous political regime, a new constitution in which citizens participate in drafting, and further democratization of the country by reducing the executive powers of the president. In the document that was delivered to the authorities, the protesters conclude by saying that they will not give up the fight if all the points are not fulfilled in the next 6 to 12 months.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa took refuge in Singapore after a first stopover in the Maldives, but his final destination is unknown. The city-state’s foreign ministry declared that the former president “did not ask for asylum, nor has it been granted.” With the resignation letter, the presidential immunity that had prevented any trial against Rajapaksa, accused of war crimes against the Tamil population during the civil war, when he was Defense Minister, ends effectively.
Sri Lanka is experiencing the worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948. In April the island country announced default, declaring the insolvency of its debt worth more than 50,000 million dollars. The country has been unable to import fuel for months and inflation has exceeded 54%, preventing citizens from buying basic necessities, especially food and medicine.
Add Comment