But popular demonstrations also call for Wickremesinghe’s resignation. Clashes with the police in the capital, stormed the prime minister’s office and interrupted the broadcasts of the country’s main television network. The activists are demanding that the rest of the Rajapaksa family be prevented from leaving the country.
Colombo () – The situation in Sri Lanka is constantly evolving: this morning the news broke that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives with his wife without submitting a letter of resignation to the Speaker of Parliament, as established by the Constitution. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe assumed the interim presidency after declaring a state of emergency; protesters clashed with police and stormed the prime minister’s offices.
Broadcasts of the national television network were interrupted and the police used tear gas and water cannons against the people, who are also demanding Wickremesinghe’s resignation. The prime minister called on the army to “restore order.”
In the early afternoon the Speaker of Parliament, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, reiterated that Rajapaksa would send an official letter of resignation today, as promised on July 9, the day protesters occupied the presidential palace after months of protests over the economic crisis.
The president’s resignation letter would allow Sri Lanka to put in place a succession plan for an interim president to take the reins of government for up to 30 days until parliamentarians meet and elect a new president. Yesterday Abeywardena announced that elections will be held on July 20, after making a first consultation with the deputies on July 15.
The Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) confirmed that it had provided President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his wife with a flight to Katunayake International Airport earlier today.
Rajapaksa’s flight ends a family dynasty that has ruled Sri Lanka since 2005. Gotabaya served as defense minister and then came to power with 690,000 votes in 2019.
Always chanting the slogan “GotaGoHome”, protesters continue to occupy the state television headquarters, the prime minister’s residence and several main streets in the capital, Colombo. They demand that a travel ban be imposed on all members of the government, including former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa (Gotabaya brothers who have served in government several times), Central Bank Presidents WD Lakshman and Ajith N. Cabraal, and the Minister of the Treasury, Sajith Attygalle.
Chandra Jayaratne, former president of the Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce, together with Transparency International and some citizens, had filed a petition in the Supreme Court claiming that the government’s Monetary Council had violated the fundamental rights of citizens by causing an economic crisis. .
In April, Sri Lanka announced the suspension of payments, declaring insolvency to pay off a debt amounting to more than 50,000 million dollars. For months the country has not been able to import fuel and inflation exceeds 54%, which prevents citizens from accessing basic necessities, especially food and medicine.
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