Live updates on the Sri Lankan economic crisis: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa lifts the state of emergency.

  • April 6, 2022, 11:02 a.m.

Sri Lanka Crisis: Live News Updates Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa late Tuesday night revoked the state of emergency with immediate effect on his island nation. In a gazette notification number 2274/10, the President said he has withdrawn the emergency rule ordinance that gave security forces sweeping powers to curb any disturbance in the country.

President Rajapaksa declared an emergency on April 1 amid a spate of protests over the worst economic crisis in the country, with thousands gathering outside the President’s private residence, demanding his resignation.

Later, the government imposed an island-wide curfew. Protests continued despite the curfew and the state of emergency, with senior ruling party figures having their homes surrounded by angry protesters who urged the government to find solutions to the economic crisis. The revocation of the gazette assumes significance as the ruling coalition appears to have lost its majority in the 225-member Parliament, with over 40 MPs declaring independence from the ruling coalition.

 

Sri Lanka Crisis news Sri Lanka's president revokes emergency order; government in disarray as economic crisis deepens. Follow the latest updates here.

 

10:51 (IST) on April 6, 2022

Sri Lanka's doctors to protest against drug shortages as crisis persists

Sri Lankan doctors said they will hold a street protest in the commercial capital Colombo on Wednesday as hospitals run out of essential drugs because of the country's worst economic crisis in decades.

The Government Medical Officers' Association, which represents over 16,000 doctors nationwide, said medics from across Colombo would gather at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka and protest "against the serious shortage of drugs". 

Malaka Samararathna, who works at the state-run Apeksha Hospital, which treats tens of thousands of cancer patients from across the country every year, said not only drugs but even chemicals used in testing are running short. 

"The patients who are on chemotherapy, we have to monitor them carefully. Daily we have to monitor these investigations, "Samararathna said. "So, if we can't do it, we can't decide the way forward. We can't decide on the proper management. Sometimes our chemotherapy drugs cause severe side effects, so the only way we have to find out is by doing these investigations. " 

He said cancer drugs like Filgrastim and Cytarabine, as well as some antibiotics, were in short supply. 

But Rajapaksa's various moves—including securing financial support from India and China—have failed to end the shortages or the spontaneous street protests across the country. 

 

06:53 (IST) - APR 06, 2022

Lok Sabha MP demands discussion over Sri Lanka crisis

With the Indian Parliament in session, Lok Sabha MP Ritesh Pandey on Wednesday submitted an adjournment notice in the Lower House, demanding discussion on the Sri Lanka crisis. 

"The economic crisis roiling Sri Lanka has left our neighbour with shortages of food, fuel, electricity, and even paper to conduct examinations. This crisis has triggered hunger and desperation across the island nation, forcing many to flee to South Indian shores. Although the Indian government has extended a $2.5 billion line of credit as well as $500 million in fuel shipments, more needs to be done to tackle the mammoth task of stabilising the Sri Lankan economy in the short- and long-run as well as tackling short- and long-run economic migration. We must also keep in mind that climate change will only trigger disasters of unprecedented proportions – and this latest crisis is only the beginning, "Pandey said in his notice.

 

09:21 (IST) - 06 APR 2022

It's explained: The Rajapaksa clan in Sri Lankan politics

The Rajapaksa family, whose members include Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister and President, hails from the Hambantota district in the south. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brothers Chamal, PM Mahinda, and Basil are third-generation politicians, while the fourth generation is represented by Mahinda and Chamal’s sons Namal, Yositha, and Shashindra.

In South Asia, no other political dynasty has been as confidently nepotistic. During Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second term as President from 2010–15, there were said to be more than 40 Rajapaksa family members in government posts, apart from the cabinet. Many of them faced enquiries for financial fraud after Mahinda’s government was voted out. Basil, who is also a US citizen, was arrested, and his wife and eldest daughter were questioned. 

 

06 APR 2022

'Go Home Gota': Protests across Sri Lanka continue As

the government lost its majority in Parliament, protesters across Sri Lanka demanded the Rajapaksa family step down as the country faces its worst economic crisis. 

People hold placards as they demand Sri Lanka's President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, resign during a protest near a road leading to the parliament building in Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 5, 2022. (Reuters)

"Go Home, Gota," demand the protesters. (Reuters) -

Catholic nuns hold placards against Sri Lanka's President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, near the Bishop's house in Colombo. (Reuters)

 

08:31 (IST) – 06 APR 2022

Amid financial ruin, Sri Lanka is caught in political deadlock.

The economic ruin appears to have brought to an abrupt end the ruling Rajapaksa family’s total domination of Sri Lanka, but the country finds itself in the middle of a peculiar political crisis today: the opposition seems almost shy about testing what is left of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s support in Parliament.

With the government in the minority in Parliament, there are no moves yet to get the government to prove its majority on the floor of the House, and the Prime Minister and the President have given no indication that they might step down, even as calls for them to go grow louder on the streets. 

While the combined opposition may not have the required numbers to form a government, the only possible challenger indicated in Parliament on Tuesday that he would play a long game. Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, son of former President Ranasinghe Premadasa and head of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), or United People’s Power, demanded that the executive presidency be scrapped immediately. 

 

06:05 (IST) – 06 APR 2022

In Photos: Visuals from Colombo after the Emergency was Revoked

"I, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of the Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, hereby revoke the gazette with effect from midnight on April 5, 2022," a gazette issued late Tuesday night said, referring to the previous order.

With at least 41 lawmakers walking out of the ruling coalition, the government is in the minority in Parliament. The next possible step, politically, could include the appointment of a new Prime Minister to replace the President's elder brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, or snap parliamentary elections way ahead of a scheduled vote in 2025.

 

07:39 (IST) - 06 APR 2022

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa revokes the state of emergency.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa late Tuesday night revoked the state of emergency he had declared on April 1 with immediate effect in his island nation.

In a gazette notification no. 2274/10, issued on Tuesday night, the president said he has withdrawn the emergency rule ordinance which gave security forces sweeping powers to curb any disturbance in the country.

The revocation of the gazette assumes significance as the ruling coalition appears to have lost its majority in the 225-member Parliament, with over 40 MPs declaring independence from the ruling coalition. The emergency approval needs to be ratified in the assembly after 2 weeks of its coming into effect. 

 

19:26 (IST) on 05 April 2022

It's explained: The Emergency in Sri Lanka, its history and contours

Sri Lanka’s President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, declared an emergency on April 1 as thousands of people came out on the streets to protest the crippling power cuts and shortages of essential commodities caused by the country’s economic meltdown. This is the second time within a year that Rajapaksa has resorted to this measure—he declared an emergency on August 30 last year to deal with hoarding of essential commodities when the economic crisis had begun to manifest itself in all its severity, but lifted it within a few weeks.

Before Rajapaksa, President Maithripala Sirisena had declared an emergency in March 2018 to contain anti-Muslim violence in some parts of the country that led to the deaths of two people, acts of arson, and damage to property. And before that, Sri Lanka was under a near continuous state of emergency for 27 years—from the anti-Tamil riots of July 1983 to August 2011—with brief respites in 1989 and 2001. An emergency

was first imposed in 1958 after Sri Lanka embraced the Sinhala-only language policy, and then off and on from 1971 onward, when the left-wing Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna mounted its first insurrection. 

 

17:26 (IST) on April 5, 2022

Sri Lanka to close its embassies in Norway, Iraq and the Consulate General in Australia from April 30.

Sri Lanka has decided to temporarily close its embassies in Oslo (Norway) and Baghdad (Iraq) and its Consulate General in Sydney, Australia with effect from April 30. According to a government statement, the decision was taken following "careful deliberation." The government stated that it is' part of a general restructuring of Sri Lanka's diplomatic representation overseas, undertaken by the Foreign Ministry in the context of the current economic situation and foreign currency constraints faced by the country. '

 

16:08 (IST) 05 APR 2022

Sri Lankan shares snap a 6-day losing run amid the country's worst economic crisis.

Sri Lankan shares broke their six-day losing streak on Tuesday, as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's ruling coalition lost its majority in parliament amid growing unrest over the country's worst economic crisis in decades. At the close of trade, the CSE All-Share index settled 5.99% higher at 8,738.08 points.

The Rajapaksa government was left in a minority in parliament on Tuesday after at least 41 Sri Lankan lawmakers walked out of the ruling coalition.

The debt-laden country currently faces shortages of food, fuel, and medicine and prolonged power cuts as it struggles to pay for imports of fuel and other goods due to a scarcity of foreign exchange. The equity market turnover was 1.14 billion rupees ($3.86 million) on Tuesday, compared with 1.97 billion rupees in the previous session. 

 

14:39 (IST)05 APR 2022

Rajapaksa's grip on power weakens: how many seats will the ruling coalition have?

The ruling coalition, which had won 150 seats in the 2020 general elections and went on to increase its numbers through defections from the opposition, on Tuesday appeared to lose the support of at least 41 MPs. These included members of former president Sirisena's Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and others from the 11 coalition partners.

It now appears to have 109 seats, five fewer than the 113 seats required for a simple majority in the 225-member Parliament.

The government, however, claimed that it commands the simple majority.

 

13:50 (IST) on April 5, 2022

As 41 lawmakers quit the ruling coalition, Oppn calls on the President and PM to resign. The names

of the 41 lawmakers to leave the coalition were announced Tuesday by party leaders in Parliament. They have now become independent members, leaving Rajapaksa's government with fewer than the 113 members needed to maintain a majority in the 225-member house. 

There has been no vote count yet, although Rajapaksa's minority government could find decision-making more challenging. Independent parliamentarians, however, could continue to support government proposals in the house. 

"There are endless shortages of essentials, including fuel and cooking gas. Hospitals are on the verge of closing because there is no medicine, "Maithripala Sirisena, leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, withdrew its support for Rajapaksa's coalition, told Parliament. "At such a time, our party is on the side of the people. Together

with other lawmakers, President Rajapaksa and his elder brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, were called on to present a clear plan to find a resolution to Sri Lanka's financial mess. 

But opposition parties, reflecting the mood of a wave of protests sweeping the country of 22 million people, urged the president and prime minister to step down. (Reuters)

 

13:11 (IST) 05 APR 2022

Protests outside President Rajapaksa's office demanding his resignation

Protests continued across the country Monday night, including at Independence Square in Colombo and outside the office of President Rajapaksa amid the ongoing crisis in Sri Lanka. 

 

12:54 (IST) 05 APR 2022

'Proactive, unconventional steps need to be taken': Newly-appointed Finance Minister Ali Sabry resigns

The newly-appointed Finance Minister, Ali Sabry, who had replaced the President's brother, Basil Rajapaksa, tendered his resignation, stating that after much deliberation, "I am now of the view that for your Excellency to make suitable interim arrangements to navigate this unprecedented crisis, fresh and proactive and unconventional steps need to be taken, including the appointment of a new Finance Minister."

He added that when he resigned as Minister of Justice on April 3, it was not his intention to take up another post.

 

12:37 (IST) on April 5, 2022

Sri Lanka’s ruling coalition loses parliamentary majority amid unrest

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's ruling coalition lost its majority in parliament on Tuesday after at least 41 lawmakers walked out of the alliance amid growing unrest over an economic crisis, according to parliamentary proceedings. 

"Our party is on the side of the people," said Maithripala Sirisena, leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, which withdrew its support for Rajapaksa's coalition.

The shift left Rajapaksa with a minority government, which could make decision-making more challenging, although independent lawmakers can still continue to support government proposals. 

 

12:14 (IST) 05 APR 2022

President Rajapaksa says he won’t resign, but is ready to hand over the government to whoever has a majority in Parliament. While speaking to senior party members, President

Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Tuesday asserted that he wouldn’t resign from his position. He, however, said that he's ready to hand over the government to whoever has proved to have the majority of 113 seats in Parliament, news agency ANI reported.

 

11:52 (IST) - 05 APR 2022

Shiv Sena MP expresses concern over Sri Lanka crisis, says "India is on that path."

Sri Lanka's condition is very worrisome. India is on that path. We have to handle it, otherwise our condition will be worse than Sri Lanka's. Mamata Banerjee has also said to call for an all-party meeting under PM Modi's leadership, "Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut was quoted as saying by ANI.

 

11:13 (IST) 05 APR 2022

Rajapaksa's grip on power weakens as dissidents plan to ditch the government.

The 225-member Parliament will convene on Tuesday for its first session since a state of emergency was declared by President Rajapaksa last week. 

The dissidents, led by former president Sirisena's Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), would leave the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) coalition with its 14 members of Parliament, party sources said after their meeting with the President on Monday. 

The coalition, which commanded 157 votes out of 225 at the last vote held on the government budget, is bound to lose between 50 and 60 members, Udaya Gammanpila, a dissident lawmaker, told reporters on Monday. 

As a result, the government would not only be denied its two-thirds but even the simple majority of 113 members, he said. 

The dissidents said that in addition to the 14 members of Sirisena, 16 more from the other 11 members of the coalition would defect to form an independent group. They expect at least 20 people from the SLPP to join their ranks. 

However, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, a SLPP lawmaker, said that the government was rock solid with 138 members backing it.

 

10:32 (IST) on April 5, 2022

Sri Lankan Parliament to meet today

The Sri Lankan Parliament is expected to meet Tuesday after the Opposition rejected the President’s proposal to form a unity government.

"You could see the composition of parliament changing today," lawyer Luwie Niranjan Ganeshanathan, who specialises in constitutional issues, told news agency Reuters. 

Sri Lanka's ruling coalition won 145 out of 225 seats in the last parliamentary election. However, some of its 11 coalition partners that collectively hold 30 seats have indicated they will sit independently in Parliament.

Reuters reported that if the ruling coalition loses its majority, the opposition can table a resolution to dissolve Parliament and call for elections, Reuters reported. If a no-confidence motion is brought in, the President can appoint a new Prime Minister.

 

09:58 (IST) 05 APR 2022

Police use tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters outside the Sri Lankan PM's house.

Around 2,000 protesters reached the residence of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in Tangalle, demanding his resignation. The protesters reportedly broke through police barricades, prompting the security forces to use tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. 

People shout slogans against Sri Lanka's President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and demand that Rajapaksa family politicians step down during a protest amid the country's economic crisis on a main road in Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 4, 2022. (Reuters)

Sri Lankan police fired tear gas and water cannons to quell protests in front of PM Mahinda Rajapaksa's home.

Sri Lankan police fired tear gas and water cannons at some 2,000 irate protesters who defied curfew orders and tried to storm Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's residence in Tangalle on Monday, demanding his resignation amid the worst economic crisis in the country. Around 2,000 people descended on the Prime Minister's residence, known as Carlton House, in Tangalle, situated 200 km south of Colombo, and pulled down barricades, chanting anti-Rajapaksa slogans.

Interestingly, Tangalle, which has a Sinhalese-majority population, is considered to be the bastion of the powerful Rajapaksa clan.

According to eyewitness accounts, angry protesters managed to dodge the police and were seen running toward Rajapaksa's gates clamoring for his resignation.

Sri Lanka gets a new finance minister and central bank governor as unrest grows.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa dropped his brother as finance minister and sought a new central bank governor on Monday.

The president's nephew resigned as sports minister in the government that was disbanded while the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) governor offered to quit. The CBSL delayed its monetary policy announcement scheduled for Tuesday.

Former CBSL official P. Nandalal Weerasinghe said on Monday that he had accepted an offer from Rajapaksa to become the central bank's next governor.

"The president called me and made the offer, and I have accepted," Weerasinghe told Reuters.

The president's media office said Justice Minister Ali Sabry was named finance minister, replacing Basil Rajapaksa, the president's younger brother, who was due to visit Washington this month for talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a loan programme.

The ministers of foreign affairs, education, and highways will keep their positions. -- Reuters

Author : Rajdhani Delhi Representative

Rajdhani delhi representative

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