Sri Lanka

Thousands of protesters demanding the resignation of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa are set to converge on his official residence Saturday as the ...

Sri Lankan police have fired tear gas at protesters demanding that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his government resign over the island nation's worst ...

Thousands of people demonstrated in the capital against the island nation's worst economic crisis in recent memory and demanded President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ...

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Protesters have stormed the presidential residence in Sri Lanka as thousands take to the streets over the president's handling of the country's economic ...

Video broadcast on Sri Lankan television and on social media showed the protesters enter President's House — Rajapaksa's office and residence in the commercial capital — after breaking through security cordons placed by police. Protesters then also breached Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's official residence, known as Temple Trees, according to local media reports, while video of protesters entering the gates to Wickremesinghe's residence circulated on social media on Saturday. Some background: Anger reached unprecedented levels in the South Asian nation of 22 million on Saturday, as more than 100,000 people amassed outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence, calling for his resignation.

The request came as protesters entered his residence and office, and thousands ​more ​descended on the capital to register their fury over his government's ...

“All the systems in Sri Lanka have come to a standstill now. When coronavirus restrictions dried up the flow of tourism dollars and the debt piled up to unsustainable levels, leaders showed little urgency in finding solutions or seeking help. Mr. Wijewardena, the economist, said the country’s leaders had to look inward to solve its problems. The cricket stadium, also constructed on the family’s orders, has had only a few international matches and is so remote that arriving teams face the risk of wildlife attacks. The daily reality of people’s lives has grown only harsher in recent weeks, with shortages of fuel and essential medicine. As the island nation struggles to contain a worsening economic crisis, many residents say they are feeling the effects deeply. The clashes unleashed a wave of violence and vandalism across the country, raising fears that the country could break into outright anarchy. He appointed a new prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has tried to raise financial aid from allied countries and work with the International Monetary Fund to restructure the country’s immense foreign debt. But many of its underlying causes have remained, with the Rajapaksa family continuing to cater to the majority Buddhist Sinhalese. But the protests continued. “I came here today to send the president home,” said Wasantha Kiruwaththuduwa, 50, who had walked 10 miles to join the protest. That conflict, between the government and the Tamil Tiger insurgents who had taken up the cause of discrimination against the ethnic minority Tamils, ended in 2009.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, whose family many hold responsible for the worst economic crisis in decades, was moved to safety ahead of the ...

A new prime minister and cabinet were sworn in but as the economic situation worsens, anger is beginning to spill over again. Wickremesinghe told parliament recently the country was “bankrupt.” Asking the president to step down he said, “The siege is over. But the country was struggling in the negotiations. Earlier in the day, thousands of people carrying the yellow and red Sri Lankan flag marched toward the president’s home chanting “Gota, go home.” The police fired tear gas to deter the surging crowds. “We are desperate,” said Himantha Wickremerathne, a 34-year-old lawyer who joined the protests.

The prime minister's spokesperson, Dinouk Colambage, said Wickremesinghe told party leaders that he will resign when all parties have agreed on forming a ...

“His claim that he was voted in by the Sinhala Buddhists is not valid now,” said Ven. Omalpe Sobitha, a prominent Buddhist leader. In April, Sri Lanka announced it is suspending repaying foreign loans due to a foreign currency shortage. Last month, Wickremesinghe said the country’s economy has collapsed. Thousands of protesters entered the capital from the suburbs after police lifted an overnight curfew. At least 34 people including two police officers were wounded in scuffles as protesters tried to enter the residence. The president’s older brother resigned as prime minister in May after violent protests saw him seek safety at a naval base.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was not at his residency when the protesters broke in.

A member of the far-right Oath Keepers militia brought explosives to Washington, D.C. ahead of the Jan. 6 deadly insurrection, according to court documents from the Justice Department. The big picture: Retired Lt. Gen. Gary Volesky, the Army's former top spokesman, responded to a tweet from Biden that said the rights of women had been stolen in the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Driving the news: Protesters had gathered outside of the restaurant and called Morton's manager to have the justice, who joined the Supreme Court's majority opinion overturning Roe v. - Thousands of people have traveled to the country's capital to join the protests, which have been ongoing for months. - The country is facing major food and medicine shortages, which doctors in the country said in May could lead to deaths,Al Jazeerareports. By the numbers: At least 31 people have been injured in the protests, per CNN, which cited the National Hospital of Sri Lanka.

Protesters broke into the Sri Lankan leader's official residence in Colombo on Saturday as more than 100000 amassed outside, according to police, ...

Schools have been suspended and fuel has been limited to essential services. A police curfew that was earlier imposed in several police divisions in the Western Province of Sri Lanka was lifted on Saturday. Several politicians and the Bar Association in Sri Lanka referred to the curfew as being "illegal," saying there had been no instances of violence to justify imposing the measure. At least 31 people, including two police officers, have been injured in the protests and are receiving treatment, according to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL). Two of the injured are in critical condition, according to police.

Leaders of political parties in Parliament met after the storming of the president's residence and decided to request Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil ...

They said that the protesters should have access to governance as a pressure group. “His claim that he was voted in by the Sinhala Buddhists is not valid now,” said Ven. Omalpe Sobitha, a prominent Buddhist leader. At least 34 people including two police officers were wounded in scuffles as protesters tried to enter the residence. Thousands of protesters entered the capital from the suburbs earlier on Saturday after police lifted an overnight curfew. On Saturday, as droves of people broke through barriers to occupy the president’s residence, hundreds of protesters, some carrying national flags, also stormed his seaside office in another nearby building. A new prime minister, Wickremesinghe, took over in May to help steer the country out of the crisis.

Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will resign after angry protesters stormed their homes, giving into popular ...

The speaker of Parliament says President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has agreed to resign, but the president has not been seen since protesters stormed the official ...

Mr. Wijewardena said that in the days to come, Sri Lankans would have to sacrifice modern comforts. The South Asian nation has run out of foreign currency to pay for fuel, bringing its economy grinding to a halt. The country is still in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to restructure billions of dollars in foreign debt, on which it has defaulted. As the country’s economy appeared to be headed for a crash, he made his brother Basil Rajapaksa the minister of finance last July. The situation has grown so desperate that Sri Lanka has asked President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia for a credit line to buy fuel. Officials have said that many of its traditional fuel suppliers are reluctant to sell to the country, as the state oil company is mired in debt it is struggling to pay off. Mr. Abeywardena, in a televised statement, said the president had informed him he would resign on July 13, “to ensure a peaceful transition of power.” Officials at the Defense Ministry and in the army did not immediately respond to questions about Mr. Rajapaksa’s location. By the evening, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who took office only in May and was also facing demands to resign, said he would step down, saying he had “the safety of all citizens” in mind. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the parliamentary speaker and an ally of the president, announced the development at the end of a chaotic day. In the official residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who had fled to an unknown location the day before, the protesters swam in the clear blue water of an outdoor pool, while others crowded around the edges. The president, he said, will resign on Wednesday “to ensure a peaceful transition of power.”

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lanka's opposition political parties will meet Sunday to agree on a new government a day after the country's president and prime ...

Protesters later broke into the prime minister’s private residence and set it on fire, Wickremesinghe’s office said. The president’s older brother resigned as prime minister in May after violent protests saw him seek safety at a naval base. Video and pictures showed jubilant crowds splashing in the garden pool, lying on beds and using their cellphone cameras to capture the moment.

Calm returned to the streets of Sri Lanka's commercial capital Colombo on Sunday and protesters were jubilant as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa agreed to ...

The speaker had outlined proposals from a meeting of political parties on Saturday that would include parliament picking an acting president within a week. Some took selfies of the polished interiors, a striking contrast to the misery many have endured. The fertiliser ban was reversed in November. Others set fire to the private home of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who also agreed to resign to make way for an all-party government. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

Sri Lanka woke on Sunday to an uncertain future, with both its President and Prime Minister set to step down after thousands of protesters stormed their ...

If both Wickremesinghe and Rajapaksa resign, under the Sri Lankan constitution, the speaker of parliament will serve as acting president for a maximum of 30 days. Fellow journalists who rushed to their aid were then also attacked, Newsfirst reported. Two of the journalists from the Sri Lankan TV channel Newsfirst had their cameras rolling at the time. Among those injured is a lawmaker from eastern Sri Lanka, she added. Protesters also targeted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, setting on fire his private residence on Fifth Lane, an affluent neighborhood in the capital. Images show demonstrators inside the whitewashed colonial-era building and hanging banners from the balcony.

If both president and prime minister resign, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena will take over as temporary president, according to the constitution.

Protesters later broke into the prime minister's private residence and set it on fire, Wickremesinghe's office said. Video and pictures showed jubilant crowds splashing in the garden pool, lying on beds and using their cellphone cameras to capture the moment. Thousands of protesters entered the capital Colombo on Saturday and swarmed into Rajapaksa's fortified residence.

Sri Lanka's departing prime minister says the island nation's debt-laden economy has “collapsed” as it runs out of money to pay for food and fuel.

——— Earlier in June, the United Nations launched a worldwide public appeal for assistance. ——— The prime minister appeared to be underscoring the challenges facing his government as it seeks help from the IMF and confronts criticism over the lack of improvement since he took office weeks earlier. ——— The government needed to boost its revenues as foreign debt for big infrastructure projects soared, but instead Rajapaksa pushed through the largest tax cuts in Sri Lankan history. ——— Tropical Sri Lanka normally is not lacking for food, but people are going hungry. ——— ——— Sri Lankans are skipping meals as they endure shortages and lining up for hours to try to buy scarce fuel. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lanka’s prime minister said late last month that the island nation’s debt-laden economy had “collapsed” as it runs out of money to pay for food and fuel.

Protesters stormed the home of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and set Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's home ablaze over the country's economic collapse.

“My demand is that we have honest and educated people appointed from the present parliament to take us out of this immediate mess.” Visuals from local media showed a stream of visitors walking through an imposing stairway at the president’s home. Announcements were made to not steal or harm the property. Aid groups say nearly a quarter of the country’s 22 million residents are in need of food assistance. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in a tweet, said President Rajapaksa had lost the confidence of the Sri Lankan people. “It was the might of the people on show,” he said. Namal Ratnayake, 40, was part of the protesting crowd that marched toward the president’s office. Ganeshan Wignaraja, an economist at ODI, a U.K.-based global affairs think tank who has been involved in the IMF discussions described the economic situation as “hugely challenging.” In May, similar large-scale protests led to the resignation of Rajapaksa’s older brother Mahinda as prime minister and other family members. The anger over continued economic distress spilled over again, this time in greater force. He had moved out of his home a day ahead of the protests, and his whereabouts remain unknown. On Saturday, angry crowds stormed the presidential residence and office, and celebrated their victory by diving into the swimming pool and lounging on his bed.

Public anger over the country's economic crisis has forced the president and prime minister to agree to resign · Demonstrators in Colombo. · Protesters swimming ...

You may cancel your subscription at anytime by calling Customer Service. Monthslong antigovernment demonstrations took a dramatic turn on July 9, when police were unable to hold back large crowds of protesters who stormed and occupied the official residences of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Protesters also set fire to Mr. Wickremesinghe’s private home. Sri Lanka’s sovereign-debt crisis has crippled its economy and sparked months of political turmoil and public unrest.

COLOMBO, July 10 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's economic crisis looks to have finally toppled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa has not commented directly ...

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The crisis has crippled Sri Lanka, once seen as a model for a developing economy. Months later, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Fuel shortages have led to long queues at filling stations as well as frequent blackouts, and hospitals have run short of medicine. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Chamila Nilanthi is tired of all the waiting. The 47-year-old mother of two spent three days lining up to get kerosene in the Sri ...

Although they live in a democracy, many Sri Lankans blame the politically dominant Rajapaksa family for the disaster. “As one of the Asian Tigers, it had worked its way off the aid list,’’ said Jackie Pomeroy, an economist who worked on a USAID project in the Indonesian government before joining the World Bank in Jakarta. The Indonesian economy shrank more than 13% in 1998, a Depression-level performance. But then a financial crisis — triggered when Thailand suddenly devalued its currency in July 1997 to combat speculators — swept across East Asia. Plagued by widespread corruption and weak banks, Indonesia was hit especially hard. Desperate city dwellers returned to the countryside where they could grow their own food. Indonesia, once touted as an “Asian Tiger’’ economy, endured Depression-level deprivation in the late 1990s that led to riots and political unrest and swept away a strongman who had held power for three decades. The police and military are separately investigating the incident. Food price inflation is running at 57%, according to government data, and 70% of Sri Lankan households surveyed by UNICEF last month reported cutting back on food consumption. Foreign exchange reserves plummeted, leaving Sri Lanka unable to pay for imports or defend its beleaguered currency, the rupee. Until it all came apart, they enjoyed financial security and increasing standards of living. A few years ago Sri Lanka’s economy was growing strongly enough to provide jobs and financial security for most. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Chamila Nilanthi is tired of all the waiting.

A few years ago Sri Lanka's economy was growing strongly enough to provide jobs and financial security for most. It's now in a state of collapse.

More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Although they live in a democracy, many Sri Lankans blame the politically dominant Rajapaksa family for the disaster. Desperation turned to rage and demonstrations against the government of Suharto, who had ruled Indonesia with an iron fist since 1968. As one of the Asian Tigers, it had worked its way off the aid list,'' said Jackie Pomeroy, an economist who worked on a USAID project in the Indonesian government before joining the World Bank in Jakarta. The Indonesian economy shrank more than 13% in 1998, a Depression-level performance. A few years ago Sri Lanka's economy was growing strongly enough to provide jobs and financial security for most. Indonesia, once touted as an Asian Tiger'' economy, endured Depression-level deprivation in the late 1990s that led to riots and political unrest and swept away a strongman who had held power for three decades. The police and military are separately investigating the incident. Food price inflation is running at 57%, according to government data, and 70% of Sri Lankan households surveyed by UNICEF last month reported cutting back on food consumption. Foreign exchange reserves plummeted, leaving Sri Lanka unable to pay for imports or defend its beleaguered currency, the rupee.

Sri Lanka's opposition political parties will meet Sunday to agree on a new government a day after the country's president and prime minister offered to ...

The government must submit a plan on debt sustainability to the IMF in August before reaching an agreement. Its total foreign debt amounts to $51 billion, of which it must repay $28 billion by the end of 2027. He later moved into a house in Colombo. Thousands of protesters entered the capital Colombo on Saturday and swarmed into Rajapaksa's fortified residence. Rajapaksa appeared to have vacated his residence before it was stormed, and government spokesperson Mohan Samaranayake said he had no information about his movements. Protesters remained in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's home, his seaside office and the prime minister's residence, saying they will stay until they officially resign.

Sri Lanka's opposition political parties will meet Sunday to agree on a new government a day after the country's president and prime minister offered to ...

The government must submit a plan on debt sustainability to the IMF in August before reaching an agreement. Its total foreign debt amounts to $51 billion, of which it must repay $28 billion by the end of 2027. He later moved into a house in Colombo. Thousands of protesters entered the capital Colombo on Saturday and swarmed into Rajapaksa's fortified residence. Rajapaksa appeared to have vacated his residence before it was stormed, and government spokesperson Mohan Samaranayake said he had no information about his movements. Protesters remained in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's home, his seaside office and the prime minister's residence, saying they will stay until they officially resign.

After months of persistent street protests over fuel shortages, surging prices and financial mismanagement, Sri Lankan leader Gotabaya Rajapaksa is finally ...

Prime minister as well as Rajapaksa will step down after months of protests culminated in attacks on their homes.

But it was not followed up by an official address or letter of resignation and on Sunday he still remained in hiding, reportedly under the protection of the military. President Rajapaksa had been facing months of sustained protests calling for him to step down from power but he had repeatedly refused. Wickremesinghe, whose private residence was set alight by protesters on Saturday, emphasised that the country was facing critical times and needed a stable government. Many of the protesters who have been demonstrating against President Rajapaksa are not supportive of many of the MPs, who they view as still part of the political establishment that caused Sri Lanka’s downfall. Soldiers were deployed around the city and the chief of defence staff, Shavendra Silva, called for public support to maintain law and order. The president’s whereabouts was unknown.

Good morning. We're covering the resignation of Sri Lanka's president, election results in Japan and Russia's bombardment of Donetsk, Ukraine.

Now, at least one has returned to the city’s streets, thanks to two pilots who pooled their savings to buy and restore the relic. “All my memories came back,” said one woman who used to ride hot dog buses in high school and who brought her 4-year-old son for the experience. Last week, Russia established a civilian administration and unveiled a new flag in border areas under its control — a sign, analysts said, that Moscow plans to annex the territory. “Back then, there was freedom, money and a whole lot of warmth,” Tong, 35, said. Russia has aggressively moved to take the entire Donbas region of Ukraine after seizing the Luhansk province last week. With inflation pressures mounting, the yen weakening, the war in Ukraine heightening fears of energy shortages and coronavirus infections rising, it could be a harder sell than ever. Maria Ressa, the Nobel Prize laureate, lost her appeal against a cyberlibel conviction and could face a lengthy prison sentence,The Guardian reports. It’s unclear what the next government will look like and what it can do immediately to address shortages of food, medicine, fuel and other essentials. But without him, the will to push revisions through a difficult parliamentary process could wane. Rajapaksa himself has not yet addressed the reports that he plans to resign later this week, and it’s unclear who is in charge. - Updates: To receive the latest updates in your inbox,sign up here. South Korea is known for its blazing broadband and innovative devices.

Sri Lanka's opposition political parties are meeting to install a new government a day after the president and prime minister offered to resign in the most ...

“If these kinds of incidents keep on going, we can wave bye-bye to the IMF and any international assistance that is going to come to the country. The government must submit a plan on debt sustainability to the IMF in August before reaching an agreement. Its total foreign debt amounts to $51 billion, of which it must repay $28 billion by the end of 2027. He later moved into a house in Colombo. Soldiers were deployed around the city and the chief of defense staff, Shavendra Silva, called for public support to maintain law and order. Protesters remained in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence, his seaside office and the prime minister’s home, saying they would stay until the resignations are official.

Thousands occupying the presidential palace are determined to stay until both the president and PM step down officially.

The economic crisis in Sri Lanka began earlier this year after the government suspended repayment of foreign loans due to a foreign currency shortage. Opposition parties were meeting in the capital on Sunday to agree on a new government. “Farmers are not being able to cultivate, fisherman have not been able to go to the sea … so support for regime change is island wide,” Kadirgamar said. Wickremesinghe had been part of crucial talks with the IMF for a bailout programme and with the World Food Programme to prepare for a predicted food crisis. Playwright Ruwanthie de Chickera told a news conference at the main protest site in Colombo: “The president has to resign, the prime minister has to resign and the government has to go”. Protesters in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo continue to occupy the offices of the president and prime minister for a second consecutive day, vowing they will stay put until both officially have resigned.

Protest movements produce powerful symbols. Images of the citizens of Sri Lanka storming the presidential residence of the man who steered their country ...

When they started swimming in Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s pool, cooking in his kitchen and working out in the official gym, he had to know it was over for his family’s reign of economic destruction. For the first time since demonstrations began in March in the capital, Colombo, soldiers were seen joining the protests. Images of the citizens of Sri Lanka storming the presidential residence of the man who steered their country into financial ruin and then refused to step down sent a pointed message.

Protesters stormed the president and prime minister's homes over the country's economic crisis.

“I unite myself to the pain of the people of Sri Lanka, who continue to suffer the effects of the political and economic instability,’’ the pontiff said. “If these kinds of incidents keep on going, we can wave bye-bye to the IMF and any international assistance that is going to come to the country,” he said. Its total foreign debt amounts to $51 billion, of which it must repay $28 billion by the end of 2027. The government must submit a plan on debt sustainability to the IMF in August before reaching an agreement. The chief of defense staff, Shavendra Silva, called for public support to maintain law and order. Protesters remained in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence, his seaside office and the prime minister’s home, saying they would stay until the resignations are official.

Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has informed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that he will resign, the prime minister's office said on Monday, ...

The country barely has any dollars left to import fuel, which has been severely rationed, and long lines have formed in front of shops selling cooking gas. This government needs to go home and we need better leaders." Foreign exchange reserves were quickly depleted as oil prices rose. "I came alone all this way because I believe we need to see this through. Another protester, Dushantha Gunasinghe, said he had travelled to Colombo from a town 130 km (80 miles) away, walking part of the way because of the fuel crunch. "The people's struggle is for wider political reforms.

Sri Lanka's opposition parties are trying to cobble together an all-party government and pick candidates who can take over after President Gotabaya ...