The island nation of 22 million has been witnessing violence and protests even after Mahinda Rajapaksa stepped down from the prime ministerial position.
Written by Manjiri Sachin Chitre | Edited by Aniruddha Dhar
Sri Lanka, which facing the worst economic crisis, lifted the ongoing curfew for one of its most important Buddhist festivals on Sunday. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has also called on lawmakers to work together on a solution to the worsening crisis. The island nation of 22 million has been witnessing violence and protests even after Mahinda Rajapaksa stepped down from the prime ministerial position.
Here are the five latest developments in the crisis-hit country:
- Sri Lankan authorities lifted the nationwide curfew for the Buddhist festival. The celebrations will be muted as the island weathers a worsening economic crisis. A nationwide stay-home order has been in place for most of the week after violence broke out during peaceful protests that left at least nine people dead.
- Newly appointed Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said he has entrusted Sri Lankan state minister of defence and deputy leader of the UNP – Ruwan Wijewardena with the responsibility to give protection to the protest site in the Galle Face area.
- Wickremesinghe invited opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and his party to form a non-partisan government, reported news agency ANI. The newly appointed prime minister in a letter urged Premadasa to “join hands and stand united in order to create a stable economy in Sri Lanka”.
- Rajapaksa called on all lawmakers to unite and work immediately for a solution to the worsening economic crisis, reported news agency PTI. During his address, the president of the island nation said, “We must be mindful of the current situation and unite around a program that can deliver a fair determination to all.”
- Rajapaksa swore in four cabinet ministers on Saturday in an effort to ensure stability until a full cabinet is formed in the country.
(With inputs from agencies)
Less time to read?
Try Quickreads
-
Putin very sick, coup to overthrow him underway, claims Ukraine: Report
Amid intense speculations over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s health, Ukraine’s head of military intelligence Major General Kyrylo Budanov, in an exclusive interview to Sky News, said Putin is seriously ill. Asserting that he is not spreading Ukrainian propaganda against Russia, the major general said it is impossible to coup in such a situation. The 36-year-old also said the ongoing war will reach a breaking point in the second part of August.
-
Blinken offers support to family of slain Palestinian journalist
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with the family of slain Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh after criticizing Israel’s use of force at Shireen Abu Akleh’s funeral, an official said Sunday. Blinken, during his flight Saturday to Berlin for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, offered “deep condolences” in a phone call with family members of Shireen Abu Akleh, a State Department official said.
-
Crisis-hit Sri Lanka lifts curfew for Buddhist festival
Sri Lankan authorities lifted a nationwide curfew Sunday for an important Buddhist festival, with celebrations muted as the island weathers a worsening economic crisis. In recent weeks, protesters across the Buddhist-majority nation have demanded the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis in its history as an independent nation. Sunday marks Vesak, the most important religious event on Sri Lanka’s calendar, which celebrates Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death.
-
N.Korea’s Covid toll at 42; Shanghai to gradually open businesses: Top updates
In China, 226 locally transmitted cases were seen in the last 24 hours, of which 166 were in Shanghai. Several citizens have tested positive for the Omicron variant. From Monday, Shanghai will gradually begin reopening businesses including shopping malls and hair salons, weeks after the Chinese city had been placed under a strict lockdown. South Africa is seeing a fresh surge in infections driven by two Omicron sub-variants- BA.4 and BA.5.
-
New Lanka PM Wickremesinghe appoints panel to protect protest site in Colombo
Sri Lanka’s new prime minister who was sworn-in on Thursday, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has appointed a committee to ensure protection for the ‘Gota Go Gama’ protest site in the country’s commercial capital of Colombo, days after an attack on protesters by pro-Rajapaksa supporters led to the resignation of then-premier Mahinda Rajapaksa. “The government will only support the demonstrators,” he remarked. Hours later, Mahinda Rajapaksa, already under pressure to resign, stood down.