Sri Lanka could tip back to chaos if six-time PM voted president
Colombo, Sri LankaReuters Sri Lanka’s parliament will choose between three candidates for president on Wednesday, hoping the new leader will be able to pull the island out of its worst economic and political crisis since independence in 1948. But a win for acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe, one of the main two contenders but opposed by […]
Sri Lankans to protest against Wickremesinghe’s bid for president
Colombo, Sri LankaReuters Sri Lankan students and other groups planned to protest on Tuesday against Ranil Wickremesinghe’s expected bid for president, as lawmakers gathered in parliament to finalise candidates for the role. Six-time Prime Minister Wickremesinghe took over as acting President after a popular uprising amid a devastating economic crisis forced previous incumbent Gotabaya Rajapaksa […]
Haitians choose between school fees or food as costs rise
Port-au-Prince, HaitiThomson Reuters Foundation Haitian domestic worker Rose Marie Saint-Fort had to pull two of her three teenage children out of classes this year as spiraling living costs meant she could no longer afford their school fees. Like a majority of Haitians, Saint-Fort spends more than 60 per cent of her income on food. With […]
In Venezuela, cars catch fire as maintenance becomes unaffordable
Maracaibo/Caracas, Venezuela Reuters Baseball coach Adolfo Alvarez was traveling to a game with a group of children and their parents toward Venezuela´s north-western city of Maracaibo, when the bus’ engine suddenly caught fire. The blaze was caused by a fuel leak, according to firefighters, who say this has become increasingly common in Venezuela due to […]
Sri Lanka’s Rajapaksa ousted, search begins for next leader
Colombo, Sri LankaReuters Sri Lanka’s parliament accepted the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday after he fled the country, paving the way for lawmakers to start repairing the island’s shattered politics and resume efforts to ease its economic crisis. After suffering from crippling shortages of petrol and diesel and runaway prices of basic items […]
Sri Lanka’s Rajapaksa quits; ‘We are the real power’ says protester
Colombo, Sri LankaReuters The speaker of Sri Lanka’s parliament formally accepted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation on Friday after he fled to Singapore to escape a popular uprising brought about by his country’s worst economic crisis in seven decades. “From this point, we will move to constitutionally appoint a new president,” the speaker, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, […]
After Sri Lankan President flees to Maldives, protesters storm Prime Minister’s office
Colombo, Sri LankaReuters Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives on Wednesday, driven out after an economic collapse unleashed a popular uprising that appeared to end his family’s near two-decade dominance of the country. His decision to leave his ally Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in charge as acting President triggered more demonstrations, with […]
Explainer: How Sri Lanka spiralled into crisis
Reuters Sri Lanka’s economic crisis looks to have finally toppled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa fled the country early on Wednesday, likely headed to the Maldives, hours before he was to have left office. Demonstrators celebrate after entering into the Presidential Secretariat, after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled, amid the country’s economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka […]
Sri Lanka to get new president next week amid political and economic meltdown
Colombo, Sri Lanka Reuters Sri Lanka’s parliament will elect a new president on 20th July, its speaker said on Monday, after protesters stormed the residences of the current President and Prime Minister, who have both offered to quit amid an economic meltdown. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who had overseen a ruthless crushing of the Tamil Tigers […]
Sri Lanka Prime Minister’s office confirms President to resign after protests
Colombo, Sri Lanka Reuters Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has informed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that he will resign, the Prime Minister’s office said on Monday, after tens of thousands of protesters stormed the official residences of both men. After Saturday’s sweeping protests in the wake of a debilitating economic crisis, the speaker of parliament […]