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 […]
Sri Lanka swears in new President amid worst economic crisis in decades
Colombo, Sri Lanka Reuters Veteran politician Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new President on Thursday, a day after winning a vote in parliament and urging the island nation to come together to find a way out of its worst economic crisis in decades. The six-time Prime Minister succeeded Gotabaya Rajapaksa who fled […]
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 […]
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 […]
Another state of emergency declared in Sri Lanka as acting President takes reins
Colombo, Sri LankaReuters Sri Lanka’s acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared a state of emergency, according to a government notice released late on Sunday, as his administration seeks to quell social unrest and tackle an economic crisis gripping the island nation. Sri Lanka’s beleaguered leaders have issued imposed a state of emergency several times since […]
Sri Lanka’s ousted President says he “took all possible steps” to prevent crisis
Colombo, Sri Lanka Reuters Sri Lanka’s ousted President, who fled overseas this week to escape a popular uprising against his government, has said he took “all possible steps” to avert the economic crisis that has engulfed the island nation. Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation was accepted by parliament on Friday. He flew to the Maldives and then […]
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, […]
Sri Lankan President hands in resignation after fleeing to Singapore
Colombo, Sri Lanka/Singapore Reuters Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa submitted a letter of resignation on Thursday, a spokesperson for the parliament speaker said, hours after fleeing to Singapore following mass protests over an economic meltdown. The announcement triggered jubilation in the commercial capital Colombo where protesters massed outside the presidential secretariat, defying a city-wide curfew. […]