Sri Lanka

Demonstrators break in shouting slogans against Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has been moved for his safety.

However, despite mass protests and enduring public calls for the president to resign, he has so far refused. Images from the scene showed protesters flooding up the grand staircase of the colonial-era building chanting calls for the president to go. According to the defence ministry, Rajapaksa had been relocated from the house on Friday and taken into military protection over concerns that the planned protest would escalate.

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.

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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Gotabaya Rajapaksa flees as anger over shortages of fuel, food and medicine pitches into unrest.

Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled his official residence on Saturday shortly before protesters, angered by an unprecedented economic crisis, ...

"The president was escorted to safety," the source added. "The curfew was not a deterrent, in fact it encouraged more people to get on the streets in defiance," the defence official said. Police had withdrawn a curfew order issued on Friday after opposition parties, rights activists and the bar association threatened to sue the police chief.

Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is willing to resign to make way for all-party government, his office said in a statement on Saturday, ...

The Speaker can appoint a new all-party government but whether they will be accepted by the protesters remains to be seen," said political analyst Kusal Perera. The fertilizer ban was reversed in November. We will not stop until he listens to us," Perera said. If that does not happen political instability will worsen," said Sri Lanka Freedom Party leader and former president Maithripala Sirisena, speaking before Wickremesinghe had offered his resignation. Reuters could not immediately confirm the president's whereabouts. Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is willing to resign to make way for all-party government, his office said in a statement on Saturday, after thousands of protesters stormed the president's official residence in Colombo.

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.

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.

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

The prime minister had also been moved to a secure location, a government source told Reuters. Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. At least 39 people, ...

If that does not happen political instability will worsen," said Sri Lanka Freedom Party leader and former president Maithripala Sirisena, speaking before Mr Wickremesinghe had offered his resignation. The prime minister's office, in a statement, expressed "grave regret" over the assault on journalists by security personnel. "Under the acting president the present parliament can appoint a new prime minister and an interim government," said the letter released by the Speaker's office. Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said in a letter to Mr Rajapaksa that several decisions had been made at the meeting of leaders from parties - including the president and the prime minister resigning as soon as possible and parliament being called within seven days to select an acting president. "Wickremesinghe has told the party leaders that he is willing to resign as Prime Minister and make way for an all-party government to take over," his office said in a statement. Soldiers and police were unable to hold back a crowd of chanting protesters demanding Mr Rajapaksa's resignation, in a sharp escalation of months of anti-government protests over the dire economic situation.

The country's president offered his resignation after months of protests against lengthy blackouts, acute food and fuel shortages.

Rajapaksa later offers to step down on 13 July, parliamentary speaker Mahinda Abeywardana says in a televised statement. The United Nations warns that Sri Lanka is facing a dire humanitarian crisis, with millions already in need of aid. The top police officer in Colombo is assaulted and his vehicle set ablaze. The next day the IMF says it has asked Sri Lanka to restructure its colossal external debt before a rescue package can be agreed. Almost all of Sri Lanka’s cabinet resigns at a late-night meeting, leaving Rajapaksa and his brother Mahinda - the prime minister - isolated. Here is a look back at how the crisis has unfolded:

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

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. Mr Rajapaksa, a ...

The speaker had outlined proposals from a meeting of political parties yesterday 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.

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.

Firefighters try to douse a fire at the Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's private residence · Demonstrators protest inside the President's House ...

IMF officials told reporters they were hoping for the situation in Sri Lanka to improve. The economic crisis in Sri Lanka began earlier this year after its government suspended repayment of foreign loans due to a foreign currency shortage. The slogan, “Gota Go Home” was a consistent call, referring to the beleaguered president. A woman who came with her two teenage daughters told Al Jazeera she wanted to see how the presidents lived. The leaders are responsible for what has happened to this country,” K Chandra, a demonstrator, told Al Jazeera. On Sunday morning, many protesters were still camping in the president’s official residence.

Protesters in island nation of 22 million people demanded resignation after suffering months of lengthy blackouts, acute food, fuel shortages and inflation ...

Mr Rajapaksa later offers to step down on July 13th, parliamentary speaker Mahinda Abeywardana says in a televised statement. The United Nations (UN) warns that Sri Lanka is facing a dire humanitarian crisis, with millions already in need of aid. The top police officer in Colombo is assaulted and his vehicle set ablaze. The next day the IMF says it has asked Sri Lanka to restructure its colossal external debt before a rescue package can be agreed. Almost all of Sri Lanka’s cabinet resigns at a late-night meeting, leaving Mr Rajapaksa and his brother Mahinda — the prime minister — isolated. Here is a look back at how the crisis has unfolded:

On island's most chaotic day in months amid economic crisis, protesters storm president's residence and torch PM's home.

The protesters later broke into Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private residence and set it on fire. Outrage over Sri Lanka’s collapsing economy came to a boil on Saturday when tens of thousands of protesters stormed the colonial-era residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and later set the prime minister’s house on fire. On the island’s most chaotic day in months, protesters storm president’s residence and set PM’s home on fire in rage over the economic crisis.

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.”

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

On Saturday, both PM Wickremesinghe and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa agreed to resign amid mounting pressure from protesters who stormed both their ...

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan rupee has weakened in value to about 360 to the US dollar. 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. Earlier in June, the United Nations launched a worldwide public appeal for assistance. The stark declaration in June by Wickremesinghe, who is in his sixth term as prime minister, threatened to undermine any confidence in the state of the economy and didn’t reflect any specific new development. 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. The tax cuts were recently were reversed, but only after creditors downgraded Sri Lanka’s ratings, blocking it from borrowing more money as its foreign reserves sank. Growing numbers of Sri Lankans are seeking passports to go overseas in search of work. The push for organic farming caught farmers by surprise and decimated staple rice crops, driving prices higher. And its currency has collapsed by 80 per cent, making imports more expensive and worsening inflation that is already out of control, with food costs rising 57 per cent, according to official data. Tourism, an important engine of economic growth, has sputtered because of the pandemic and concerns about safety after terror attacks in 2019. Sri Lankans are skipping meals as they endure shortages and lining up for hours to try to buy scarce fuel. Tropical Sri Lanka normally is not lacking for food, but people are going hungry.

Sri Lanka's prime minister said late last month that the island nation's debt-laden economy had “collapsed” as it ran out of money to pay for food and fuel.

Sri Lanka has suspended repayment of about $7 billion in foreign loans due this year out of USD 25 billion to be repaid by 2026. 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. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan rupee has weakened to about 360 to the US dollar. The stark declaration in June by Wickremesinghe, who is in his sixth term as prime minister, threatened to undermine any confidence in the state of the economy and didn't reflect any specific new development. 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. Sri Lanka's prime minister said late last month that the island nation's debt-laden economy had “collapsed” as it ran out of money to pay for food and fuel. The tax cuts were recently reversed, but only after creditors downgraded Sri Lanka's ratings, blocking it from borrowing more money as its foreign reserves sank. The government owes USD 51 billion and cannot make interest payments on its loans, let alone put a dent in the amount borrowed. The push for organic farming caught farmers by surprise and decimated staple rice crops, driving prices higher. Sri Lankans are skipping meals as they endure shortages and lining up for hours to try to buy scarce fuel. And its currency has collapsed by 80%, making imports more expensive and worsening inflation that is already out of control, with food costs rising 57%, according to official data. Tropical Sri Lanka normally is not lacking for food, but people are going hungry.