Insight Bureau: Prime Minister and ‘acting president’ Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday declared a state of emergency in Sri Lanka as massive protests engulfed in Colombo after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flew to the Maldives.
Fresh protests erupted in the crisis-hit Country on Wednesday after a mob of angry citizens stormed the PM’s residence in Colombo, demanding resignation of the acting President Wickremesinghe.
1. An indefinite curfew has been imposed across the Western Province, including Colombo.
2. According to the Speaker, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been appointed the acting president as incumbent Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled abroad.
3. Protesters in Sri Lanka enter Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s office, who has been appointed as Acting President by Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Protesters also occupied TV stations, Colombo.
4. Sri Lankan Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe addresses nation; blames ‘fascists’ for the unrest. He gives a free hand to military, police to deal with the situation.
Support Independent Journalism? Keep us live.
5. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will send his resignation letter today; a new President will be elected on July 20. Speaker confirms the development.
6. US Embassy in Sri Lanka cancels its all consular services for today & tomorrow.
7. Security personnel resort to tear-gas shelling to drive away protestors on the streets of Colombo.
8. On their arrival in the Maldives, President Rajapaksa, his wife and bodyguards were driven to an undisclosed location under police escort.
9. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is set to depart from Maldives to Singapore this evening after he was guaranteed asylum there.
10. Protesters discovered 17.85 million in Sri Lankan rupee (about $50,000) in crisp new banknote but handed over to a courtpolice.
Comments are closed.