Sri Lanka’s interim President Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared a state of emergency as his government seeks to quell social unrest and deal with an economic crisis that has ravaged the country, according to a government statement late Sunday.
“It is appropriate in the interest of public safety, the protection of public order, and the maintenance of essential supplies and services for the life of the community,” the statement said.
Ousted Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the country this week to escape a popular uprising against his government, said he had taken “all possible measures” to avert an economic crisis engulfing the country.
Parliament on Friday accepted the resignation of Rajapaksa, who traveled to the Maldives and then Singapore a week after hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Colombo and occupied his residence and official offices.
Sri Lanka’s parliament convened on Saturday to begin the process of electing a new president, and a shipment of fuel arrived to help the crisis-hit country.
Wickremesinghe, a Rajapaksa ally, is one of the main contenders for the presidency, but protesters are also calling for his resignation, which would likely lead to further unrest if elected.
Source: Lebanon Debate
