Sri Lanka crisis: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa lands in Maldives amid political unrest

Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena convened an emergency all-party meeting today. According to reports, Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles was the only leader representing the government in the meeting. During the meeting, party leaders decided to call for Ranil Wickremesinghe who has been appointed as the country's acting President. MP Lakshman Kiriella stated that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Commanders of the Tri-Forces were also invited to the meeting, News Cutter reported.

Sri Lanka's embattled president Gotabaya Rajapaksa who fled the crisis-hit country on Wednesday, has landed in Malaysia's Male, according to PTI sources. According to an immigration official who spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, Rajapaksa left the country on a Lankan Air Force plane that was bound for the city of Male. It is to mention that sources told Republic TV that the incumbent President Rajapaksa has already signed his resignation papers dated July 13 which will be submitted to the Parliament Speaker on Wednesday for the formal declaration.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said the developments in Sri Lanka were totally an "internal issue" of the island nation and added it believed that the new government will be formed with an aim of resolving the issues of common citizens. “We expect a new government to be formed and are ready to cooperate with it. We believe the situation will return to normal before long and that the new Sri Lankan authorities will take the necessary measures to ride out the crisis in the national economy,” Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
 

The president of Sri Lanka fled the country early Wednesday, days after protesters stormed his home and office and the official residence of his prime minister amid a three-month economic crisis that triggered severe shortages of food and fuel.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, his wife and two bodyguards left aboard a Sri Lankan Air Force plane bound for the city of Male, the capital of the Maldives, according to an immigration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.

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Amid reports of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa being barred from taking a flight to Dubai, Sri Lankan Immigration Department Officials Association has rejected the claim and said there are no such provisions that could bar a President from travelling abroad, News Cutter reported. According to A. A. S. Kanugala, President of the Sri Lankan Immigration Department Officials Association, Rajapaksa neither approached the Airport on July 11 nor 12.

Amid the worst-ever economic as well as a political crisis in Sri Lanka, local media reported that the country will witness a similar public outrage on Wednesday, July 13, in order to force President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign from his post.

Amid the worst-ever economic as well as a political crisis in Sri Lanka, it seems nobody is in the mood to spare the incumbent President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from fleeing the country. In the latest development, citing Sri Lankan local media, The Guardian reported that the President had tried to flee the country on Monday night, but, the airport authorities barred him to take the flight. He reportedly tried to catch a flight to Dubai but airport staff stood in his way and forced him to beat a humiliating retreat.
 

Amid continued political turmoil in Sri Lanka, Republic learnt that outgoing Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will take over the office of the President, on Tuesday. Sources told the channel that the incumbent President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has already signed his resignation papers dated July 13 which will be submitted to the Parliament Speaker on Wednesday for the formal declaration.

As soon as the formal declaration is made, there would be a vacancy on the post. Article 40 (c) of the Sri Lankan constitution,  reads that during the period between the occurrence of such vacancy and the assumption of office by the new President, the Prime Minister shall act in the office of the President. If the Prime Minister is unable to act, the Speaker shall act in the office of the President. The Parliament would then proceed to fill the vacancy by an election among MPs. Article 40 (b) states that such an election shall be held as soon as possible after the occurrence of the vacancy and in no case later than one month from the date of occurrence of the vacancy.

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The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has advocated for a peaceful and orderly transfer of power that upholds constitutional principles and the rule of law. The BASL stressed in a statement that the contributions and sacrifices made by Sri Lankans seeking genuine change over the past few months are immeasurable.

In his recent remarks, Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera stated that the clergy are prepared to nominate five qualified members of civil society for the role of President if the political parties are unable to agree on a replacement. The Buddhist leader also urged the party leaders to approve their appointment to Parliament via the national list. 

"The future President should be chosen with a common agreement from all political parties and based on the national needs. We request all political party leaders to come to a consensus, leaving behind a political power struggle. If they cannot do so, we are ready to nominate five civil activists suitable for the position. In such case, we request party leaders to allow them to be nominated through the national list in place of five MPs," he added, the Daily Mirror reported. 

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated India's support for Sri Lanka and noted that Colombo is currently in need of financial assistance. He further stated that India is concentrating on finding measures to assist the island nation in this regard. "The situation in Sri Lanka is very sensitive and complicated. Even as we speak there are developments taking place. Our commitment is to support the Sri Lankan people because they are our neighbours. They are friendly people. We want to help them as they are going through a very difficult phase. We want to help because of this feeling of friendship. We have been extremely supportive of the island nation in the last few months," he stated while addressing a press conference in Kerala, ANI reported.  

He further added, "Our focus is on Sri Lanka's economic situation and how we can help them. We are not involved in the other matters. Only focused on economic aspects of the issue and we are not concerned about other factors. We can not respond to everything that comes on social media." 

In a recent development, Sri Lanka's Motor Traffic Department announced that it will remain closed on Fridays and public holidays till further order. According to the department's Commissioner-General Sumith CK Alahakoon, the decision was taken owing to problems with transportation and fuel supply, Daily Mirror reported. He further stated that neither public nor private transportation options are available to the department officers.

In a recent development, the government of Maldives has expressed concern over the unstable situation in Sri Lanka, which is going through an unprecedented economic as well as political turmoil. Dr Abdulla Rasheed Ahmed, Maldives' minister of state for education, stated that the ongoing crisis in the island nation has also raised an alarm in its neighbouring countries. "India and Maldives, these are the closest neighbours to Sri Lanka. So if anything sad is happening to any of neighbouring country, definitely that should be a concern," news agency ANI quoted him as saying. 

As hundreds of residents continue to line up for fuel and gas, a significant number of people are using bicycles for daily commute instead of cars and motorbikes. As the island country tackles the worst economic crisis in its recent history, the lives of people are crippled by an acute shortage of petrol along with skyrocketing prices of all essential commodities. According to ANI, the present circumstance has led to a spike in the purchase of bicycles across the country. 

Locklin, who works as an HR in a private company in Colombo, told the news agency that he can not afford petrol at the present price, and does not have the time to stand in long queues.

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The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) denied reports claiming President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was currently residing at a private house belonging to Air Chief Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana. It also stated that it was propaganda intended to harm the force's reputation. "There was no truth behind the reports and it was propaganda to tarnish the image of the SLAF and its chief," the force's spokesperson Dushan Wijesinghe added, as per the Daily Mirror. 

Amid the ongoing economic crisis, the cost of bread is set to be increased by Rs 20 from today's midnight. According to local reports, the 450g loaf of bread will now cost Rs 190. Further, all other bakery items will also have their prices raised by Rs 10. NK Jayawardena, president of All Ceylon Bakery Owners' Association, stated that the decision to raise the price was taken as a result of a Rs 32 increase in the price of a kilogramme of wheat flour. He further noted that a kilogramme of wheat flour that was once priced at Rs 84.50 in the market is now available for more than Rs 300.  

"The rupee value against the dollar does not exceed Rs 400, but the flour price has increased to Rs 300 in the local market and thereby the price of wheat flour has gone up by 400 per cent," Jayawardena said, as per the Daily Mail. 

A fight broke out today among protesters inside Araliyagaha Mandir, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's official residence, injuring at least 10 people, including a woman. According to a Colomo Post report, the injured people were rushed to the National Hospital after the incident. Notably, Sri Lankan protesters have occupied the residences of the Prime Minister as well as the President since July 9. 

Amid the ongoing crisis in the country, a petition has been filed in the Sri Lankan Supreme Court seeking an interim order to ban former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Minister Basil Rajapaksa and two others from leaving the country without taking permission from the country's top court. Through Attorney-at-Law Upendra Gunasekera, the petitioners urged the Supreme Court to issue a directive enabling legal action against individuals responsible for financial irregularities and poor economic management in the country, Daily Mirror reported. 

Sri Lankan Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya (SLNSS) of the country's airlines suspended its services at the Silk Route Lounge of the island nation's airport. The decision was taken by the trade union to stop the concerned officials who are a part of the ongoing crisis from leaving the nation, Daily Mirror reported. According to the report, SLNSS decided to stop executing their duties and also refrained from handling passengers on the Silk Route from today. 

After tumultuous protests rocked Sri Lanka due to the financial crisis, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday expressed solidarity with Sri Lankans. The UN chief also called for dialogue for the “smooth” transition of government to find solutions as the country tackles the worst economic crisis since 1948. 

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Sri Lankan state gas, Litro Gas, is supposed to distribute 80,000 domestic gas cylinders to the Colombo district today, Colombo Page reported. This comes after 35,000 units were already delivered on Monday as the country continues to struggle with a plethora of crises.

Amid the ongoing crisis in Sri Lanka, the cricketers brought some cheers to their home fans as they won the Galle Test to level the two-match Test series against Australia. Concerns were raised during the match with protestors reaching the fence of Galle Cricket stadium, however, the contest went ahead without much trouble as Sri Lanka beat Australia by an innings and 39 runs. 

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 Sri Lankan Ministry of Agriculture informed on Monday that the urea fertilizer provided by India to meet shortages was at par with national quality standards. The report certified that the percentage of biuret in this urea fertilizer is 0.9%, Colombo Page reported. As of now, the fertilizer will be distributed among centers across the island from today (July 12). 

Prime Minister’s Media Division on Tuesday filed a police complaint after two laptops, a video camera, and other camera equipments were stolen from Temple Trees. According to the Colombo Page report, the protestors also damaged the property by digging large holes on the wall of the PM's official resident. 

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Tuesday signed his resignation documents from an unknown location, according to sources. With this, he became the island's first president to step down before the end of the term. 

For four consecutive days, the official residence of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, his office and the Temple Trees (official residence of Sri Lankan PM) remained under the control of civilians. The official buildings were taken over by during massive anti-government protests that erupted Saturday. 

The immigration and emigration officials have announced withdrawal from their duties at the 'Silk Route’ VIP Passenger Clearance Terminal at Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake. The president of the officers association told local media that the decision was a part of trade union action. The withdrawal as of midnight Monday will continue until further notice.

Sri Lankan hospitals are facing a staff crisis after the government suspended fuel sales for non-essential vehicles. According to NewsForst reports, the doctors and other medical employees are struggling to reach hospitals in absence of transportation. The report added that the Ministry of Health is currently in talks with Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to source fuel for medical staff. 

Sri Lankan Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekra on Monday announced the arrival of three fuel shipments to Sri Lankan docks by July 24. In a series of Twitter posts, he wrote: "Cargo scheduled to arrive on the 9th was delayed due to weather conditions & could not be loaded on time & the supplier has communicated the departure from India this morning. The new Laycan has been given as 12-15th. All Dates are given by the suppliers & weather permitting."

Demand for bicycles increased manifold in Sri Lanka as citizens ditched cars and motorbikes amid severe fuel shortages on the island. "We can't afford petrol or the time it takes in queues - staying in queues doesn't assure petrol either. Many people have switched to cycles & public transport," said a customer in Colombo. The fuel prices increased after Sri Lanka resorted to its reserves failing to secure major shipments due to a lack of foreign reserves. Later, towards end of June, Colombo suspended non-essential fuel sales as the crisis worsened. 

A massive fight erupted between two groups of activists on Tuesday at the official residence of Sri Lankan PM at Temple Trees in Kollupitiya, which is currently under the occupation of protestors. About 10 people sustained injuries in the clashes, who have been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital. Among the injured were nine men and a woman participating in the large-scale protests that began Saturday. Local police have launched an investigation into the incident. 

In order to resolve the immediate woes of Sri Lankan citizens, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena is scheduled to meet the protestors at the Parliament complex today afternoon. According to Colombo Page report, he will sit with 25 representatives of the demonstrators to hear out the suggestions on the proposed all-party government after the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

Former Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa on Monday was denied entry on a US-bound flight from Katunayake Airport. In a massive humiliation, Rajapaksa, who is the brother of Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa and former Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, was turned away by airport staff. Sources also said that the passengers on the flight refused to have him aboard. 

At least 10 people were injured and hospitalised after a tussle inside Sri Lankan Prime Ministerial residence in Temple Trees earlier today, NewsFirst reported. It is currently unclear who or what triggered the brawl among the protestors. 

Amidst the ongoing violent protests in Sri Lanka, UAE airline flydubai has suspended its flights to the South Asian country on Monday with a promise to refund the full amount of the booked tickets. "Flydubai flights between Dubai and Colombo Airport (CMB) have been suspended from July 10 until further notice. We will continue to closely monitor the situation on the ground in Sri Lanka," a flydubai spokesperson said in a statement on Monday, reported Khaleej Times. The major development came merely three months after the airline had mentioned Colombo as one of its popular destinations as it witnessed a surge in passengers' demands to the island nation.

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The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentary group has proposed Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa's name for the position of interim President. According to reports, the proposal was made at the parliamentary group meeting on Monday by party secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara and was seconded by party chairman Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka. Notably, SJB has over 50 MPs in Parliament, but they need the backing of 113 MPs in order to win a vote.

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For the first time since 2021, Sri Lanka’s trade deficit contracted due to a decline in import expenditure, year-on-year, for the fifth consecutive month. Meanwhile, earnings from exports increased, said a monthly External Review report by Sri Lankan Central Bank on Monday. As quoted by Colombo Page, the trade deficit narrowed on a year-on-year basis for the first time in May this year, on a cumulative basis.

Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday denounced the mob attack on his private residence, saying it was the only house he had that was set ablaze on Friday.  "I had no other houses in Sri Lanka or abroad. That house has been burnt down today. My greatest wealth was the library. It had 2500 books, some are 300, 200 years old and some signed by famous people like Kissinger,” Colombo Page quoted the PM as saying. 

Amid the tumultuous political crisis, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe said he would uphold the provisions of the Constitution while listening to people’s opinions. Speaking to reporters on Monday, the embattled PM said “I have not seen such suffering before. That’s why I accepted the post,” Colombo Page reported. 

Eran Wickramaratne, a parliamentarian from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) party emphasised that a new all-party government must be established as per international standards. "It is the only solution to come out of the crises facing the country and the people. This was also the demand of the protesters," he told reporters, as quoted by Colombo Page. 

Sri Lanka's outgoing Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe stated on Monday that the government should operate within the confines of the constitution and that no one has the right to dictate parliament from outside. His remarks came as protesters have been demanding the Sri Lankan President and his entire government resign as the island nation experiences the worst economic crisis since its independence. The Sri Lankan Prime Minister further stated that he will make all his efforts to safeguard the constitution. 

"I am here to safeguard the constitution, one must listen to the people but should act in accordance with the constitution. Sri Lanka needs an all-party government. We have to work for it," Wickremesinghe remarked, Daily Mirror reported. 

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated that he is closely following the developments in Sri Lanka amid the ongoing crisis. He stated that the UN stands in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka and also urged all parties to engage in discussion to secure a smooth transition of power and long-term solutions to the economic crisis. The Secretary-General also condemned all acts of violence and called for those guilty to be held accountable.

The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentary group has proposed Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa's name for the position of interim President. According to reports, the proposal was made at the parliamentary group meeting on Monday by party secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara and was seconded by party chairman Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka. Notably, SJB has over 50 MPs in Parliament, but they need the backing of 113 MPs in order to win a vote.
 

Sri Lanka's parliament speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena stated that leaders at the all-party meeting have decided on on the future steps that need to be taken following the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on July 13. The Party Leaders had thus emphasised the necessity to take steps promptly in accordance with the Presidential Elections (Special Provisions) Act (No. 2 of 1981). According to the Speaker, Parliament will convene on July 15 as per the act and the house will be informed of the vacant Presidency. Following that, on July 19 nominations will be sought, and on July 20, in accordance with the applicable legal conditions, voting will be done to choose the new President.
 

The Minister of Urban Development and Housing, Prasanna Ranatunga claimed that the new President of the country will be elected on July 20. Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) leader stated that party leadership has decided to elect the new President on July 20, as incumbent Rajapaksa has decided to step down from his position. 

Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Monday clarified that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has not left the country amid the ongoing political turmoil. This comes after Abeywardena had told BBC News Podcast that the President fled to a nearby country following the mass protest held on July 9. "President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa is still in the country, I made a mistake during an interview," he confirmed to ANI in a telephone call. 

Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa claimed that the government has lost its legitimacy in the country. He also stated that the Opposition is ready to form a new government with a new President and a new Prime Minister. "In the past 2½ years your incompetence has destroyed our country. We will form a new government with a new President & a new PM. All those who oppose this process will be responsible for the ensuing anarchy," Premadasa wrote in a Twitter post. 

Church leaders in Sri Lanka asserted that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa must take personal responsibility for leading the nation into bankruptcy. They also demanded both his and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's immediate resignations. In a statement, the Church of Ceylon said that the overwhelming demand for President Rajapaksa's resignation from religious leaders to civil society and the common people on the street is a clear indication that he no longer has the authority to lead this nation.

"The President has to take personal responsibility for driving this country to a state of bankruptcy and a term of office can only be legitimate if the people still have confidence in the individual," it stated. 
 

In a statement regarding the events of July 9, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe described the sequence of incidents that resulted in the torching of his house. He stated that he vacated the premises with his wife, and thereafter his only house was torched. “My only treasure was my 2,500 book library. It contained limited edition and rare books, while only of many rare paintings he owned survived the fire. My wife and I agreed to donate these books to Royal College, University of Peradeniya, and another international body," Wickremesinghe stated, News First reported. He also apologized to the people, saying that he understands their hardships. 

Muditha Peiris, the chairman of Sri Lanka's Litro Gas, claimed that there won't be a gas shortage till August in the country. He further stated that around 30,000 Litro Gas cylinders will be distributed in the country on Monday, followed by another 120,000 cylinders on Tuesday, July 12. According to him, a total of 80,000 cylinders weighing 12.5 kg, 20,000 cylinders weighing 5kg and another 20,000 cylinders weighing 2.3kg will be distributed across the country on Tuesday. "Another 20,000MT of gas will be received soon, and it is to reach the Maldives. After July 20, another four gas shipments will arrive in the country," Daily Mirror quoted Peiris as saying. 
 

In a latest development, Sajith Premadasa, the leader of the Opposition, announced his readiness to defend the motherland and revive the economy of the nation. In a statement to the media, he claimed that the Opposition is prepared to take the initiative in developing a plan to stabilise the nation and strengthen its economy. Further, he also slammed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for "ruining" the country. According to Premadasa, the only other option to revive the country is to establish a government headed by a new President and Prime Minister, News First reported.

The '1990 emergency ambulance service' has been suspended in a number of regions owing to the fuel crisis in Sri Lanka. The Suwa Seriya Ambulance Service has requested the people to refrain from calling the 1990 emergency ambulance service in the affected regions, Colombo Gazette reported. According to reports, the 1990 Suwa Seriya Ambulance Service will not be available in parts of Batticaloa, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Puttalam, Badulla, Monaragala, Hambantota, Matara, Galle, Kalutara, Kegalla, Ratnapura, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts in the country. 

Kanchana Wijesekra, Sri Lanka's minister of power and energy, provided an update on the gasoline delivery to the country. He stated that full payments for a diesel cargo scheduled to arrive between July 15 and July 17 and a gasoline cargo scheduled to arrive between July 22 and July 24 had been made to Lanka IOC with the help of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Finance.

Sri Lanka was in a political vacuum for a second day Monday with opposition leaders yet to agree on who should replace its roundly rejected leaders, whose residences are occupied by protesters angry over the country’s deep economic woes.

Protesters remained in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence, his seaside office and the prime minister’s official home, which they stormed on Saturday demanding the two leaders step down. It marked the most dramatic day of protests during three months of a relentless crisis that has pushed many to the brink of despair amid acute shortages of fuel, food, medicine and other necessities.

The protesters, who come from all walks of life, vowed to stay put until the resignations of the leaders are official. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said Saturday he would leave office once a new government is in place, and hours later the speaker of Parliament said Rajapaksa would step down Wednesday.

(Associated Press)

The President's Office stated that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will exclusively communicate through the speaker of the Parliament. According to a statement, Speaker's comments must be taken as official declarations from the President. 

Several parliamentarians have urged outgoing Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to take over the Presidency and not leave the crisis mid-way, as talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are underway. This comes after incumbent President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has agreed to tender his resignation on Wednesday, July 13, amid the widespread protest in the country. According to a report by Daily Mirror, Wickremesinghe still holds a majority of around 115 seats out of 225 in the parliament. 

According to reports, if Wickremesinghe agrees to take over the Presidency, his main task would be to focus on striking an agreement with the IMF in an attempt to reinstate some kind of economic normalcy. However, if he declines to accept the offer, Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena would be sworn in as President pro tem on Wednesday for a period of 30 days, while Parliament chooses a replacement. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has also expressed his interest to take over the country's Presidency.

Former Sri Lanka cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya joined the ongoing protests in his country against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's government. Jayasuriya was spotted at one of the protest sites in Colombo on Saturday, where he had gone to demand Rajapaksa's resignation. Thousands of protesters stormed the country's capital on Saturday and eventually laid siege on President Rajapaksa's official residence, leading to a massive security breach. 

"I'll say it was a good day for the people. A sizable crowd arrived since that was the protesters' primary demand—that the president steps down. I joined the protests because the entire country of Sri Lanka wants the president to step down. Not just me, but everyone is showing support for the protesters, including athletes and celebrities. People are in pain, thus the government needs to decide quickly on resignation. People are waiting for the decision," Jayasuriya said. 

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Sri Lanka cricket legend Sanath Jayasuriya revealed his thoughts about the pending resignation of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa amid the ongoing protests in the country. Sri Lanka is currently trying to tackle its worst economic crisis since its Independence. Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe confirmed on Monday that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will resign from the Presidential post on July 13, as promised before.

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Sri Lanka PM Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday held a discussion with his cabinet ministers this morning. In a statement, the PMO said all the ministers who attended the meeting were of the opinion that as soon as there's an agreement to form an All-Party Govt, they will hand over their responsibilities to that govt.

On Monday, protesters continued the occupation of Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence, the seaside office and the prime minister’s official home 'Temple Tree.' Hundreds of agitated protestors infringed the residents' two prominent leaders and took possession on Saturday. They refused to move from the official buildings unless Rajapaksa announced his resignation. According to AP news, protestors will remain through Monday saying they would stay until the resignations are official.

Sri Lanka's state-owned domestic gas company on Monday released a list with revised prices. Amid the crippling economic crisis, citizens will now have to pay a whopping Rs. 4,910 for a 12.5kg LPG canister. The prices will vary on district basis.

Sri Lankan state-owned supplier of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), Litro Gas, on Monday, said it will begin distribution of domestic gas. The supplies will be restored in the suburbs and outstations by July 13, the Colombo page reported. 

A special meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Affairs chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena is scheduled to be held today at 2.00 pm (local time) to discuss the future political affairs of the country, the Colombo Page reported. The committee members are expected to discuss the appointment of a new president after Rajapaksa's exit. In addition, they will also mull over the formation of a new government following PM Ranil Wickremesinghe's resignation. 

Sri Lanka's Opposition parties will resume talks on Monday to form an all-party interim government after the president and prime minister offered to resign as unprecedented protests broke out and thousands of enraged demonstrators stormed the leaders’ homes over their mishandling of the country's worst economic crisis.

PTI

The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) has "categorically denied" shooting at civilians during the violent demonstration by the people on July 9 at Galle Face, Pulse Today reported. The spokesperson admitted that some rounds were fired in the air, sidewalls and main entrance of Colombo Fort (the President's House) in order to deter agitators from the compound. 

In a statement, the SLA denounced videos surfacing on the internet which showed armed troops opening fire at protestors. "Firing into the air and sidewalls do not therefore necessarily mean that Army personnel on duty were intent on causing deliberate harm to the protesters," the statement added, as quoted by PulseToday.

Former Sri Lankan President and chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe have no moral right to remain in power and warned that "a very dangerous situation" will arise if they don't quit immediately.

Sirisena, who was in power from 2015 to 2019, in a statement made 10-point proposals to address the political crisis in the country as the anti-government protesters in Sri Lanka on Sunday continued to occupy the residences of President Rajapaksa and Prime Wickremesinghe, a day after they stormed into the premises protesting over the nation's severe economic crisis. 

PTI

India on Sunday handed more than 44,000 metric tonnes of urea under a credit line extended to crisis-ridden Sri Lanka, as part of New Delhi’s ongoing efforts to support the island nation’s farmers and help bolster bilateral cooperation for food security, the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka said.

Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay met Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera to inform him about the arrival of more than 44,000 metric tonnes of urea.

“High Commissioner met the Honourable Agriculture Minister and informed him about the arrival of more than 44,000 MT of urea supplied under a credit line extended by India to Sri Lanka,” the Indian High Commission said in a tweet.

"High Commissioner stressed that this latest assistance by #India symbolises its continued commitment to support the people of Sri Lanka, including #lka's farmers, and bolster the efforts for food security of the country's citizens," it added.

Last month, Amaraweera had met Baglay and sought India's help for food security and environmental protection in the island nation, as it faces the worst economic crisis in its post-independence history.

In May, India assured Sri Lanka to immediately supply 65,000 metric tonnes of urea to avoid any disruption to the current Yala cultivation season in Sri Lanka.

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Amid the political and economic crisis, the deputy chief of the United National Party (UNP) Ruwan Wijewardena said that setting PM Ranil Wickremesinghe's residence ablaze cannot be stemmed from "struggle."

"We strongly condemn this atrocity committed by saboteurs to satisfy personal and political hatred by spreading violence under the guise of struggle and betraying the core of the struggle and resolve to prevent such atrocity from happening again,” UNP leader said, as quoted by Colombo Page.

As the search for a political solution to mitigate the ongoing crisis continues, the Chairman of the National Freedom Front, Independent MP Wimal Weerawansa agreed to the proposal of an all-party government.  NewsFirst reported that a discussion was held among a 9-party independent group today at the Communist Party headquarters in Sri Lanka on the same. 

Anti-government protestors in Sri Lanka, who broke inside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s official residence in Colombo Fort, claimed to have found at least 17.85 million Sri Lankan Rupees inside his seaside mansion as the country remains crippled by the worst financial crisis since 1948. After thousands of protesters stormed Rajapaksa's residence and later PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s house, which they set on fire, the Sri Lankan President’s whereabouts are still unknown. The protestors broke inside the high-security Fort district on Saturday and were using his property.

Amidst the political turmoil, a video also emerged of demonstrators counting cash inside Rajapaksa’s residence. The clip then spread like wildfire with people across the globe watching the scenes emerging from the island country in shock. The confiscated funds were allegedly handed over to the local police.  

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Indian Coast Guard hovercraft is on high alert near Mandapam base, Rameshwaram in order to keep a check on the illegal migrants from there due to the ongoing political and economic crisis in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has officially informed PM Ranil Wickremesinghe that he will be resigning as previously announced: Sri Lanka PM's office

Pope Francis on Sunday appealed to the leaders of Sri Lanka “not to ignore the cry of the poor and the needs of the people." In a Twitter post, he urged the leaders to ensure peace in the Asian country. He also expressed solidarity with Sri Lankan citizens who continue "to suffer from political and economic instability."

Following the tumultuous protests amid the economic crisis, Sri Lanka’s opposition on Sunday met to agree on installing a new government after both President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe offered to resign. The Sri Lankan President and PM agreed to resign one the most dramatic day of months-long political turmoil in the country with protesters storming the residences of both leaders in a rage over economic woes.

While the country is facing the worst financial crisis since 1948, on Saturday, the demonstrators remained in Rajapaksa’s seaside residence in Colombo Fort and Wickremesinghe’s home. The demonstrators stated that they would stay inside the leaders’ residence until they resign. Rajapaksa was said to have fled the scene when he was nowhere to be found. A statement from the Sri Lankan president’s office later stated that he had ordered the immediate distribution of a cooking gas consignment to the public, suggesting that he was still working. 

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Bakery products including bread will be emptied from the shelves in the next two or three days, said the All Ceylon Bakery Owners' Association (ACBOA), as quoted by Daily Mirror. Due to the prevalent fuel crisis and the shortage, in addition to the increase in the price of ingredients, the bakers have found it difficult to keep up with production, said ACBOA President NK Jayawardena. He blamed the government for the economic collapse, adding that despite being an essential item, the government did not do anything to salvage the bakery industry so far. 

The Sri Lankan Ministry of Education in association with UNICEF trained teachers to help students deal with the economic crisis and consequent situation psychologically. 

A second shipment, by Litro Gas company, of 3,740 metric tonnes of LP gas is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka by today evening, Daily Mirror reported citing the Presidential Secretariat.

This comes after, on Sunday, the first ship containing 3,700 metric tonnes reached  Kerawalapitiya port in the island nation mired in crisis and violent anti-government protests. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had instructed to carry out the unloading and distribution soon as the ship docked, the statement said. 

As the political crisis in Sri Lanka continues to escalate, the Indian High Commission in the island nation has categorically rejected the “speculative media reports” about New Delhi sending troops to Colombo. The remarks by Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka came as thousands of protesters stormed into President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's official home, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's private residence, which they later set ablaze. 

In a statement shared on Twitter, the Indian High Commission said, "The High Commission would like to categorically deny speculative reports in sections of media and social media about India sending her troops to Sri Lanka. These reports and such views are also not in keeping with the position of the Government of India”.

“The Spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs of India clearly stated today that India stands with the people of Sri Lanka as they seek to realise their aspirations for prosperity & progress through democratic means & values, established institutions & constitutional framework,” it added. 

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Hours after the dramatic resignation of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Shavendra Silva, has appealed to the citizens to support the Armed Forces in maintaining law and order situation in the country. His remarks came as lakhs of protestors seized President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's official residence and set ablaze the Colombo-based private residence of PM Wickremesinghe late on Saturday night. The arson came amid heavy military security at PM's residence. According to local media reports, the PM and his family members had already vacated the house amid threats of attack from the protestors.

As many as 30 people were reported to be injured during the protest. Amid reports of the President fleeing to some other place, a government spokesman, Mohana Samaranayake, said he had no information about Rajapaksa’s whereabouts.

In the television footage, it showed hundreds of people inside the well-fortified house and on the grounds outside, some taking a dip in the garden pool and others in a jubilant mood. The protestors were demanding the immediate removal of President Rajapaksa. The protestors chanted slogans against the President-- ‘Gota go gama’s or ‘Gota go’ villages, and blamed him for the entire mess ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country.  

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Sri Lankan Defence Ministry spokesperson on Sunday claimed that videos on the internet showing large military battalion marching towards Galle Face are "fake." As reported by NewsFirst, the MoD categorically denied the deployment of troops to quell protests saying that the morphed videos were propaganda directed. 

Chief of Sri Lanka Bar Association President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris on Sunday stated that a new leader of the country must be appointed "without delay" in order to restore peace and stability. 

Addressing a presser, Peiris said, "Today this news conference was called to explain the legal and constitutional situation regarding the situation that has arisen in the country as the President and the Prime Minister have informed that they will resign from their positions in the near future hoping to comment on that situation and the government’s stability,” as quoted by Colombo Page.

The BASL also condemned the "acts of violence" committed by protestors on Sunday. "These acts of violence will only further destabilize the country. The unity among the citizens is disturbed. It also affects the country’s economy negatively. The international image of Sri Lanka is also damaged. We request all parties to refrain from acts of violence, and not to support acts of violence. Violent actions delay the realization of the aspirations of the people that we hope for,” Counsel Peiris added. 

At least three people have been reportedly arrested in Colombo in allegations of setting Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe's private residence on fire. Senior Superintendent of Police Nihal Thalduwa told Colombo Page that among the detained was a 19-year-old resident of Mount Lavina and two residents of Galle Face aged 24 and 28 years old. 

In view of the current political crisis in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday informed that India has extended unprecedented support of over US$ 3 billion for improving the serious economic situation of the island nation. In response to media queries, the MEA released a letter which stated, "India is Sri Lanka’s closest neighbour and our two countries share deep civilizational bonds".

"We are aware of the many challenges that Sri Lanka and its people have been facing, and we have stood with the Sri Lankan people as they have tried to overcome this difficult period. In pursuance of the central place that Sri Lanka occupies in our Neighbourhood First policy, India has extended this year itself unprecedented support of over US$ 3.8 billion for ameliorating the serious economic situation in Sri Lanka," the letter stated. 

"We continue to follow closely the recent developments in Sri Lanka. India stands with the people of Sri Lanka as they seek to realize their aspirations for prosperity and progress through democratic means and values, established institutions and constitutional framework," as per MEA's letter.

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