Sri Lanka protesters storm President’s house, clash with police
Colombo, Sri LankaReuters Thousands of protesters in Sri Lanka’s commercial capital Colombo broke through police barricades and stormed the President’s official residence on Saturday in one of the largest anti-government marches in the crisis-hit country this year. Some protesters, holding Sri Lankan flags and helmets, broke into the President’s residence, video footage from local TV […]
Sri Lanka hit by power cuts after key union goes on strike
Colombo, Sri LankaReuters Swathes of Sri Lanka were hit by electricity cuts on Thursday after a power sector union went on strike opposing new government regulations, compounding hardships as the country tackles a crippling economic crisis. About 900 out of around 1,100 engineers of the state-run Ceylon Electricity Board, Sri Lanka’s main power company, went […]
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister says he will slash expenditure in new budget
Colombo, Sri LankaReuters Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Tuesday he will present an interim budget within six weeks, slashing infrastructure projects to re-route funds into a two-year relief program for the crisis-hit island nation. Wickremesinghe, who took office two weeks ago, warned that inflation would rise as the government gets down […]
Thousands queue for petrol, gas in Sri Lanka amid warnings of food shortages
Colombo, Sri LankaReuters Thousands of people queued for cooking gas and petrol in Sri Lanka’s commercial capital on Friday and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe warned of a food shortage as the island nation battles a devastating economic crisis. Lines formed in many parts of Colombo, a city of around 900,000 people, as residents tried to […]
Sri Lanka fuel shortage set to ease; police clash with protesters
Colombo, Sri LankaReuters Sri Lanka’s central bank has secured foreign exchange to pay for fuel and cooking gas shipments that will ease crippling shortages, its governor said on Thursday, but police fired tear gas and water canon to push back student protesters. Most of Sri Lanka’s petrol stations have run dry as the island nation […]
Sri Lanka down to last day of petrol, PM tells crisis-hit nation
Colombo, Sri LankaReuters Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister said on Monday the crisis-hit nation was down to its last day of petrol, as the country’s power minister told citizens not to join the lengthy fuel queues that have galvanised weeks of anti-government protests. Ranil Wickremesinghe, appointed Prime Minister on Thursday, said in an address to […]
Sri Lanka names new PM in bid to address growing crisis
Colombo, Sri Lanka Reuters Sri Lanka appointed a new Prime Minister on Thursday, as its embattled President seeks a way out of the country’s worst economic crisis since independence that has sparked widespread protests. Ranil Wickremesinghe, a political veteran who has been Prime Minister of the island nation five times before, must try to address […]
Sri Lankan President to appoint new PM, cabinet this week; Pope calls for leaders to respect human rights
Colombo/Weerakeiya, Sri Lanka Reuters Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said on Wednesday he would appoint a new Prime Minister and cabinet this week, after his elder brother and former premier Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned following deadly violence in the country. The new prime minister and cabinet will command a majority in the 225-seat parliament, Rajapaksa said, […]
Sri Lanka protesters call for new government a day after clashes kill eight
Colombo, Sri LankaReuters Protesters and a key trade group in Sri Lanka called for a new government to take control of the crisis-hit country on Tuesday while the President asked for calm following clashes that claimed eight lives and prompted his brother to quit as prime minister. Sri Lanka has been suffering its worst economic […]
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister resigns, curfew imposed after clashes
Colombo, Sri Lanka Reuters Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister resigned on Monday to make way for a unity government that would try to find a way out of the country’s worst economic crisis in history, but protesters said they also wanted his brother to stand down as President. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s resignation came hours after […]