“Life is difficult”: Sri Lanka’s economic crisis leaves elderly homeless and penniless
PIYUMI FONSEKA, of Thomson Reuters Foundation, reports that an economic meltdown has forced some elderly people onto the streets as their families can no longer afford to care for them…
Sri Lanka marks independence anniversary amid economic woes
Colombo, Sri Lanka AP Sri Lanka marked its 75th independence anniversary on Saturday as a bankrupt nation, with many citizens angry, anxious and in no mood to celebrate. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has started to improve some but not all of the acute shortages, acknowledged the somber state of the nation, saying in a televised speech, “We […]
Sri Lanka’s new President says non-violent protests can continue after crackdown
Colombo, Sri LankaReuters Sri Lanka’s new President Ranil Wickremesinghe told diplomats this week that non-violent protests against his government will be allowed to continue, including in the commercial capital Colombo, his office said in a statement on Sunday. In a pre-dawn raid on Friday, hundreds of security personnel dismantled part of an anti-government protest camp […]
Sri Lankan security troops raid protest camp, 50 injured
Colombo, Sri Lanka Reuters Sri Lankan security forces raided an anti-government protest camp in the commercial capital Colombo early on Friday, two protest organisers said, a sign that the country’s new President was cracking down a day after his swearing in. Hundreds of security personnel surrounded the “Gota Go Gama” protest camp, mockingly named after […]
Updated: Sri Lanka gets new president in six-time PM Wickremesinghe
Updated: 10.40pm, 21st July, 2022 (AEST)Colombo, Sri LankaReuters Sri Lankan lawmakers voted in acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the new President on Wednesday, hoping his long experience in government can help pull the country out of a crippling economic and political crisis. The six-time Prime Minister won 134 votes in the 225-member parliament, despite public […]