Several organisations, religious leaders, associations urge for immediate calm amid clashes
Swiss government advises against non-urgent trips to Sri Lanka
The Swiss government advised travellers on Wednesday to avoid unnecessary trips to Sri Lanka given the country's political turmoil.
"Tourist and other non-urgent travel to Sri Lanka is discouraged (except for air transit via Colombo International Airport)," the Swiss foreign ministry posted on its website, noting the country's declared state of emergency.
"The political situation is confused and tensions have increased. A deterioration of the situation must be expected," it added. - Reuters.
Nationwide curfew imposed till 5 am tomorrow amid protests
Extraordinary gazette issued by Gotabaya Rajapaksa, appointing Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to exercise, perform & discharge the powers, duties & functions of the Office of President
Oppn leaders ask Wickremesinghe to quit ahead of President's resignation
Sri Lanka's opposition leaders have asked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to quit ahead of the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who has promised to step down on Wednesday, according to a media report.
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M. A. Sumanthiran said on Wednesday that the decision was taken at an all party meeting which was attended by leaders excluding those from the Government, News 1st channel reported.
He said two unanimous decisions were taken at the meeting, and one was for Wickremesinghe to resign immediately, while the other was for the speaker to sack the Prime Minister before the President’s resignation takes effect, the channel reported.
Meanwhile, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella from the Samagi Jana Balavegaya said the Commanders of the three-armed forces were also present at the meeting. - PTI.
Police fire tear gas and use water canons to disperse protestors in front of the Speaker's residence near Parliament
Ranil Wickremesinghe asks Parliamentary Speaker to nominate new prime minister
Sri Lanka's acting president and prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has asked the Speaker of Parliament to nominate a new prime minister, his media team said on Wednesday after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country.
"Acting President and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to nominate a prime minister who is acceptable to both the government and opposition," the team said in a statement.
Protesters, angered by a severe economic crisis, have sought the ousting of both Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe. - Reuters.
Protester hospitalised after being tear-gassed dies
A demonstrator uses a megaphone as army personnel stand guard outside the office of Sri Lanka's prime during an anti-government protest in Colombo. Credit: AFP Photo
President Rajapaksa set to fly to Singapore via Maldives
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was expected to head to Singapore after fleeing to the Maldives in the early hours of Wednesday, a government source in Sri Lanka told Reuters, as protests continued in Colombo.
The source, who declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the subject, said Rajapaksa could send his resignation to the speaker of Sri Lankan parliament after landing in Singapore.
An aide to Rajapaksa and the Singapore government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Don't follow acting President Wickremesinghe’s orders: Former Army chief Fonseka to armed forces
Sri Lanka’s former Army chief and Member of Parliament Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka on Wednesday urged the country’s armed forces to not take orders from the acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe as directives issued by him were “against the Constitution.”
Sri Lanka's embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives on a military jet on Wednesday morning, hours before he was supposed to quit in the face of a public revolt against his government for mishandling the economy that has bankrupted the country.
“Ranil Wickremesinghe has identified himself as the acting President and the directives issued by such a person are against the Constitution,” Fonseka said in a statement. - PTI.
Our politicians have mismanaged country, democracy needs to return in Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya
Sanath Jayasuriya is both "angry" and "sad" to witness his beloved Sri Lanka grapple with enormous financial crisis and civil unrest but the former cricketer is expecting that democracy will soon be restored in the Island nation.
The former captain and one of the greatest players to emerge from the sub-continent, Jayasuriya didn't mince words while flaying the politicians, who he thinks have made a mess of everything.
"It is a very, very sad situation as to what Sri Lankan public has to go through. My country is suffering and I am deeply pained to see people standing in long queues to buy essential food items. There is no electricity, no fuel and above all basic medicines are unavailable. It couldn't have gotten worse for the common man," Jayasuruya told PTI in an exclusive interaction.
Sri Lankan military calls for political resolution to maintain law and order
Parliament and political party leaders must rise to the moment and reach consensus: Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya
Buddhist monks demonstrate during an anti-government protest outside the office of Sri Lanka's prime minister in Colombo. Credit: AFP Photo
Sri Lankan Army commander calls for public calm, says security forces will respect Constitution
Sri Lanka's defence chief, General Shavendra Silva, said on Wednesday the armed forces and police would respect the constitution, and called for calm after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives.
"We have requested political leaders to decide the way forward till a new president is sworn in and notify us and the public by this evening," Silva said. - Reuters.
Maldives National Party expresses 'unhappiness' over govt's decision to allow Rajapaksa's visit
The Maldives National Party (MNP) on Wednesday expressed "unhappiness" over the Maldivian government's decision to allow Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to travel to the country, and said it will move a motion, seeking the explanation from the Solih dispensation.
In an interview with PTI, MNP leader and former Maldives foreign minister Dunya Maumoon said it was very disappointing that the Maldivian government did not care about the sentiments of the Sri Lankan people. - PTI.
Protesters storm Sri Lanka PM's office after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flees abroad
Protesters in Sri Lanka defied tear gas, water cannon and a state of emergency to storm the prime minister's office on Wednesday after the president fled overseas, with the crowd demanding both men step down in the face of an economic crisis.
Protests in Male against Maldivian govt allowing Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa into the island
I urge from all to refrain from vanadalizing public property & from causing damages to lives: Sri Lanka MP Charitha Herath
Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe says fascists trying to take over government
Acting President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday said there was a fascist threat to democracy in the country and vowed to restore normalcy as well as stop the destruction of state property, hours after anti-government protesters stormed his office.
In his first televised address since being appointed to the post after embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives, Wickremesinghe said he had ordered military commanders and the police chief to do what is necessary to restore order.
“We must end this fascist threat to democracy. We can't allow the destruction of state property. The President’s office, the President’s Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s official residence must be returned to proper custody,” he said.
“Those who are in my office want to stop me from discharging my responsibilities as acting president. We can't let them tear up our Constitution. We can’t allow fascists to take over. Some mainstream politicians too seem to be supporting these extremists. That is why I declared a nation-wide emergency and a curfew,” Wickremesinghe said. - PTI.
'Don't fall ill': Sri Lanka doctors warn of drug shortage
Don't fall ill or get into accidents: That's the advice doctors in Sri Lanka are giving patients as the country's economic crisis leaves its health care system short of drugs and other vital supplies.
The South Asian island nation lacks the money to pay for basic imports like fuel and food, and medicine is also running out. Such troubles threaten to undo its huge gains in public health in recent decades.
Some doctors have turned to social media to try to get donations of supplies or the funds to buy them. They're also urging Sri Lankans living overseas to help. So far there's no sign of an end to the crisis that has thrust the country into an economic and political meltdown. - AP.
Sri Lanka PM Wickremesinghe tells military and police to 'restore order' in televised statement - AFP
Anti-government protesters break into state TV
Maldives Media reports that Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will leave for Singapore from Maldives later today
Protestors breach the premises of Sri Lankan PM's office in Colombo, raise flag atop the building
Demonstrators attend a protest outside the office of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo. Credit: Reuters photo
Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa calls Speaker of Parliament, says resignation letter coming on Wednesday
Sri Lankans storm prime minister's office, demanding he quit as well
Barely hours after Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country on Wednesday, hundreds of people were demanding the resignation of the prime minister as well and fighting street battles with riot police.
"Ranil go home!" they chanted as they tried to storm the office of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Police fired repeated rounds of tear gas and Wickremesinghe, who was acting as the president in his absence, declared a nationwide emergency and clamped a curfew in the city and surrounding areas.
The protesters see him as an ally of the Rajapaksa clan and want him out. - Reuters.
PM Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed acting President; police fire tear gas as protesters mob PM's office
India denies helping Gotabaya Rajapaksa flying out
India has denied facilitating Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’sdeparture from his countryin a military aircraft ahead of his imminent resignation.
New Delhi is keen to make sure that it is not anyway seen as supportive to the “Rajapaksa Clan”, which is being blamed by a large number of Sri Lankans for the economic crisis that the tiny nation has plunged into early this year.
Sri Lanka declares State of Emergency as President flees country
Crisis-hit Sri Lanka declared a nationwide state of emergency on Wednesday, hours after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country, the Prime Minister's office said.
‘The thieves are running away’: Sri Lanka protesters flock to Colombo
Hundreds of protesters marched toward the office of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday morning to demand that he step down, after demonstrations were reinforced overnight by throngs of people arriving in the capital, Colombo, from across Sri Lanka.