News World Sri Lanka Crisis | Island-wide curfew imposed; youth dies after being tear-gassed

Sri Lanka Crisis | Island-wide curfew imposed; youth dies after being tear-gassed

Sri Lanka crisis: According to international media reports, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was supposed to resign from his post today, fled the country with his wife and two bodyguards aboard a Sri Lankan Air Force plane.

Sri Lanka crisis Image Source : APSri Lankan protesters storm prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe 's office, demanding he resign after president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled amid economic crisis in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, July 13, 2022.

Sri Lanka crisis: Sri Lanka's Acting President and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday asked Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to nominate a Prime Minister who is acceptable to both the government and the Opposition.

In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office said that Prime Minister Wickremesinghe held a meeting with the Members of the Cabinet at his office on Monday. All the ministers who participated in this meeting were of the opinion that as soon as there is an agreement to form an all-party government, they will hand over the responsibilities to that government, it said.

Accordingly, the ruling party and the opposition must form an all-party government. Wickremesinghe is under pressure to quit before the expected resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is said to be flying from the Maldives to Singapore. The protesters who stormed Wickremesinghe’s office on Wednesday are attempting to enter the parliament compound at the time of reporting. The police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters near the official residence of the speaker, police said.

A 26-year-old protester had died of breathing difficulties after being admitted to the hospital. He was part of the group that stormed the prime minister’s office this morning where 35 others had also been injured. The Prime Minister’s Media Division said the ruling party and the opposition must form an all-party government.

 

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Live updates : Sri Lanka crisis

  • 10:13 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari

    Sri Lanka's oppn leaders ask PM Wickremesinghe to quit ahead of President's resignation

    Sri Lanka's opposition leaders have asked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to quit ahead of the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who has promised to step down on Wednesday, according to a media report. Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M. A. Sumanthiran said on Wednesday that the decision was taken at an all-party meeting which was attended by leaders excluding those from the Government, News 1st channel reported.

  • 10:12 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari

    Sri Lanka imposes nationwide curfew till 5 am on July 14

    Gazette Notification issued by acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe imposing islandwide curfew till 5 am tomorrow, Sri Lanka's Newswire said. 

  • 9:46 PM (IST) Posted by Abhrobanerjee

    Prez Rajapaksa entrusts Ranil Wickremesinghe to take over all works of President's office

    President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has entrusted PM Ranil Wickremesinghe to take over all the work of President's Office in his absence. 

    The order was passed by Rajapaksa's office.

     

  • 9:23 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari

    Sri Lankan PM and acting President R Wickremesinghe appeals to Speaker on PM candidate

    Sri Lankan PM and acting President R Wickremesinghe appeals to Speaker to choose candidate for post of PM which is acceptable to all, the ruling party and opposition.

  • 8:52 PM (IST) Posted by Abhrobanerjee

    Military crackdown on protesters could worsen situation: Experts on Sri Lanka

    The situation in Sri Lanka is very fragile and any military crackdown on protesters could further worsen the overall atmosphere, strategic affairs experts warned on Wednesday as the island nation looks at a new political phase after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country following months of protests. 

    It is very important that political anarchy is avoided in Sri Lanka and all the stakeholders must work together to restore political stability, they said.

  • 8:51 PM (IST) Posted by Abhrobanerjee

    Sri Lanka PM holds Cabinet meeting, agrees to handover responsibilities as soon as all-party govt forms

    Sri Lankan PM on Wednesday held a cabinet meeting. All ministers, who participated, were of the opinion that as soon as there is an agreement to form an all-party govt, they'll hand over the responsibilities to that government. 

    The ruling party and Opposition will have to form an all-party government. Acting President and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to nominate a Prime Minister, who is acceptable to both government and Opposition.

  • 8:26 PM (IST) Posted by Abhrobanerjee

    26-year-old protester dies in hospital after being tear-gassed

    A 26-year-old protestor, who was hospitalized after being tear-gassed outside the Prime Minister's Office in Flower Road on Wednesday, died after developing breathing difficulties. The protestor was receiving treatment in a private hospital in Colombo, reports state media.  

  • 7:56 PM (IST) Posted by Abhrobanerjee

    Sri Lanka's defence chief urges citizens to support armed forces and police

    Sri Lanka's Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva requests all citizens to give their support to armed forces & police to maintain the law and order in the country

  • 6:08 PM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    Bring situation under control: Sri Lanka's acting President instructs armed forces

    Bring situation under control: Sri Lanka's acting President instructs armed forces

  • 5:02 PM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to leave for Singapore later today: Sources

    Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who left for Maldives early this morning is to leave for Singapore later today: Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror reports citing sources

  • 4:29 PM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    US Embassy in Sri Lanka cancels all consular services amid fresh protests

    US Embassy in Sri Lanka has cancelled all consular services amid fresh protests in the debt-ridden country

  • 4:28 PM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    Srilankan Prime Minister's Office taken over by protesters in Colombo

  • 4:24 PM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    Emergency party leaders meet at 5 PM

    Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has called for an emergency party leaders meeting at 5.00pm today

     

  • 4:06 PM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    Sri Lanka authorities issue statement on number of injured

    So far 30 people have been injured and hospitalised during the protest at the Prime Minister's Office at Flower Road: Hospital sources

     

  • 4:04 PM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    Acting Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe first statement after taking over

    Acting Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe says fascists trying to take over government. 

  • 3:00 PM (IST) Posted by Sheenu Sharma

    Sri Lanka President to give his resignation today

  • 2:16 PM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    Protesters face tear gas shelling by military forces near Sri Lankan PM's residence in Colombo

  • 1:36 PM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    PM Wickremesinghe made caretaker President

    PM Wickremesinghe made caretaker President

  • 12:51 PM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter is flying low near Galle

  • 12:20 PM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    Protestors come to each other's aid as tear-gas shots fired

    Protestors come to each other's aid as tear-gas shots were fired at them by the security forces outside Sri Lankan PM's residence in Colombo

     

  • 12:18 PM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    Air patrolling has started in the area around the PM's residence

    Few protestors come prepared to face the tear gas shelling by security forces deployed outside the residence of Sri Lankan PM. Air patrolling has started in the area around the PM's residence

  • 12:17 PM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    Sri Lankan Opposition MP Patali Champika Ranawaka on Rajapaksa

    Sri Lanka's president left country without signing resignation. The speaker and whole country hoped that he would send his resignation properly, so that within next week we can elect another president. It's up to Parliament. Next President will be for an interim period. They're not going to contest elections next time. LoP Sajith Premadasa has shown his intention for same. Presidential elections can't be held at this juncture, as per the constitution it should be in held 2024: Sri Lankan Opposition MP Patali Champika Ranawaka

  • 12:16 PM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    Air patrolling being conducted by security forces

     Air patrolling being conducted by security forces as protestors storm Sri Lankan PM's residence in Colombo

  • 12:15 PM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    Sri Lanka declares state of emergency

    Sri Lanka declares state of emergency after President Gotabaya Rajpakasa fled the country, reports AFP citing Sri Lankan PM's office

     

  • 11:37 AM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    Ranil Wickremesinghe is a failed prime minister, says a protester

    Protesters face to face with military personnel deployed outside Sri Lankan prime minister's residence in Colombo. Ranil Wickremesinghe is a failed prime minister, says a protester.

  • 11:35 AM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    We want the PM to resign: Former Advisor to Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs ministry

    We want the PM to resign because as per our constitution if the President resigns PM becomes the acting President. People want both of them to leave. Police took action by tear gas shelling. Army troops moved in: Former Advisor to Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs ministry

  • 11:35 AM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    Protests erupt outside PM's residence

    Protests erupt outside PM's residence amid heavy security deployment in Colombo as protestors raise slogans

  • 11:26 AM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    'Baseless', says India over reports it helped President Gotabaya flee to Maldives

    The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka has dismissed "baseless" and "speculative" media reports that said that India has facilitated President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's exit from the country. Read

  • 11:24 AM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    Rajapaksa may step down today

    On Saturday, Rajapaksa announced that he will step down on Wednesday after thousands of protesters stormed his official residence, blaming him for the unprecedented economic crisis that has brought the country to its knees.

  • 11:23 AM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    Rajapaksa’s escape was negotiated by the Maldivian Parliament Speaker, sources

    Sri Lanka's embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s escape from the country to the Maldives was negotiated by the Maldivian Parliament Speaker and former president Mohamed Nasheed, sources said on Wednesday. READ

  • 11:22 AM (IST) Posted by Nivedita Dash

    Protestors head towards Sri Lankan Prime Minister's office

    Protestors head towards Sri Lankan Prime Minister's office as protest breaks out again in Colombo as the crisis in the country deepens