Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's entire cabinet aside from the president and his sibling prime minister resigned from their posts Sunday as the ruling political clan seeks to ...

A critical lack of foreign currency has left Sri Lanka struggling to service its ballooning $51-billion foreign debt, with the pandemic torpedoing vital revenue from tourism and remittances. Sri Lanka's entire cabinet aside from the president and his sibling prime minister resigned from their posts Sunday as the ruling political clan seeks to resolve a mounting economic crisis, with a social media blackout failing to halt another day of anti-government demonstrations. It came with the country under a state of emergency imposed after a crowd attempted to storm the president's home in the capital Colombo, and a nationwide curfew in effect until Monday morning. Solidarity protests were staged elsewhere in the world over the weekend, including in the Australian city of Melbourne, home to a large Sri Lankan diaspora. Sri Lanka's entire cabinet aside from the president and his sibling prime minister resigned from their posts Sunday as the ruling political clan seeks to resolve a mounting economic crisis, with a social media blackout failing to halt another day of anti-government demonstrations. The move clears the way for the president to appoint a new cabinet on Monday – and some of those stepping down may be reappointed.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Sri Lanka to protest against the government's handling of the country's worst economic crisis, despite a ...

People have to wait in long queues for gas, and electricity is cut for several hours a day because there is not enough fuel to operate power plants. As a result, it has struggled to pay for imports and is now dealing with a lack of basic supplies. "I have informed the secretary to the president of my resignation from all portfolios with immediate effect...," Namal Rajapaksa tweeted, saying he hopes his decision helps President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is his father, in establishing stability for the people and the government.

Opposition lawmakers in Sri Lanka on Sunday marched in the capital, Colombo, protesting against the president's move to impose a nationwide curfew and state ...

The crisis has hit people from all walks of life. The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a heavy blow to the economy with the government estimating a loss of $14 billion US in the last two years. Sri Lanka faces huge debt obligations and dwindling foreign reserves, and its struggle to pay for imports has caused a lack of basic supplies. Protesters also point to mismanagement — Sri Lanka has immense foreign debt after borrowing heavily on projects that don't earn money. Gota is a shortened version of the president's first name. Under the emergency, the president can authorize detentions, seizure of property and search of premises.

State of emergency imposed on Friday with country facing severe shortages of food, fuel and other essentials.

Diesel shortages have sparked outrage across Sri Lanka in recent days, causing protests at empty pumps, and electricity utilities have imposed 13-hour blackouts to conserve fuel. A junior party has also hinted it may leave the ruling coalition within a week. Private media outlets reported that the chief of Sri Lanka’s internet regulator resigned after the ban order went into effect. “I will never condone the blocking of social media,” said Namal, the country’s sport minister. “They should know we are still a democracy.” “We can’t allow a military takeover,” he said.

Soldiers manned checkpoints in Colombo to enforce a curfew imposed to curb public outrage triggered by an economic crisis.

"This is unacceptable," said opposition leader Eran Wickramaratne leaning over the barricades. "These students have come out in defiance of the curfew and police have fired tear gas to disperse them," said Kiriella, from the opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya party. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency on Friday as the Indian Ocean island nation grapples with rising prices, shortages of essentials and rolling power cuts.

Sri Lanka's cabinet ministers have resigned en masse after protests over the government's handling of the worst economic crisis in decades.

It is caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which is used to pay for fuel imports. They should know we are still a democracy." Earlier protesters defied a curfew to take to the streets in several cities.

All 26 cabinet ministers aside from the president and the prime minister quit as unrest over the country's worst financial crisis in decades continues.

A critical lack of foreign currency has left Sri Lanka struggling to service its ballooning $51bn foreign debt, with the pandemic torpedoing vital revenue from tourism and remittances. Solidarity protests were staged elsewhere in the world over the weekend, including in the Australian city of Melbourne, home to a large Sri Lankan diaspora. It came with the country under a state of emergency imposed after a crowd attempted to storm the president’s home in the capital Colombo, and a nationwide curfew in effect until Monday morning. Troops armed with automatic assault rifles moved to stop a protest by opposition lawmakers and hundreds of their supporters attempting to march to the capital’s Independence Square. The move clears the way for the president to appoint a new cabinet on Monday – and some of those stepping down may be reappointed. Sri Lanka’s entire cabinet aside from the president and his sibling prime minister resigned from their posts on Sunday as the ruling political clan seeks to resolve a mounting economic crisis, with a social media blackout failing to halt another day of anti-government demonstrations.

Government coalition parties are demanding a caretaker cabinet be appointed, amid mounting public outrage over the nation's food, fuel and medicine ...

Please think of the people who are suffering. He also turned to China and India for loans, while he appealed to people to limit the use of fuel and electricity and “extend their support to the country.” The European Union urged Sri Lanka’s government to safeguard the “democratic rights of all concerns, including right to free assembly and dissent, which has to be peaceful.” Why are you protecting a government like this?” In past years, emergency powers have allowed the military to arrest and detain suspects without warrants, but the terms of the current powers are not yet clear. "This is unacceptable," said opposition leader Eran Wickramaratne, referring to the curfew and other restrictions.

The son of Sri Lanka's prime minister resigned from the cabinet on Monday and several other members have offered to do so, a minister said, just days after ...

The country's expenditure has exceeded its income under successive governments while its production of tradable goods and services has been inadequate. People attend a protest against Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a residential area after the government imposed a curfew following a clash between police and protestors near the President's residence during a protest amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka April 3, 2022. People attend a protest against Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a residential area after the government imposed a curfew following a clash between police and protestors near the President's residence during a protest amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka April 3, 2022.

Sri Lanka's central bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said he is resigning from the post less than seven months into the role amid the worst economic and ...

Sri Lanka's president offered to share power with the opposition on Monday as protests escalated across the country demanding his resignation over worsening ...

Colombo (AFP) – Sri Lanka's president offered to share power with the opposition on Monday as protests escalated across the country demanding his resignation over worsening shortages of food, fuel and medicines. Colombo (AFP) – Sri Lanka's president offered to share power with the opposition on Monday as protests escalated across the country demanding his resignation over worsening shortages of food, fuel and medicines. Sri Lanka is in the grip of an unprecedented shortage of food, fuel and other essentials

Sri Lanka's collapse is front of mind for many. Protesters fed up with crippling shortages of essential food and fuel items are on the streets, ...

- On April 3 protesters in Colombo, Sri Lanka's largest city, held numerous small, peaceful demonstrations about the severe economic crisis, defying a nationwide curfew. A worsening crisis mutes the impact of disjointed financial lifelines, including a $1.5 billion currency swap from China in December and rice and diesel shipments from India. The IMF notes that policies required to reduce debt to sustainable levels are neither economically nor politically feasible. It's a reminder of the political implications of high prices. Food inflation hit an eye-watering 30.2% in March. The currency’s 40% depreciation against the U. S. dollar in one month, including a central bank managed devaluation, is blowing out leverage ratios: Public debt estimated by the International Monetary Fund at 120% of GDP is perhaps some 40 percentage points more than might be deemed sustainable, guesses Citi. read more Protesters fed up with crippling shortages of essential food and fuel items are on the streets, prompting multiple members of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s cabinet to offer to resign late on Sunday. Social unrest will probably accelerate a restructuring of some $44 billion of international sovereign debt. MUMBAI, April 4 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Sri Lanka’s collapse is front of mind for many.

Sri Lanka Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa argued that the country is calling for a “pathbreaking wholesale change” that would bring relief to its ...

It's not a genuine effort towards bringing some sort of relief to the people of our country. Amid the political crisis fuelled by an economic one, Premadasa said that the resignations are not a “genuine effort” to bring relief to Sri Lanka but “an exercise in fooling” them. “It's a melodrama that is being enacted to dupe the people of our country.

Sri Lanka protests: Demonstrations outside president Gotabaya Rajapaksa's house, imposition of the emergency rule, and a 36-hour nationwide curfew were the ...

Fifteen hours later, the access to the platforms was restored. to the President of my resignation from all portfolios with immediate effect, in hope that it may assist HE & PMs decision to establish stability for the people & the govt of #LKA. I remain committed to my voters, my party & the people of #Hambanthota. (sic)," he said in a tweet. “After discussing with the president, the steps to be taken will be decided," education minister Dinesh Gunawardena was quoted as saying in late-night reports. 3. On Sunday, Namal Rajapaksa had urged his country's authorities to "think progressively" after a countrywide social media ban. I urge the authorities to think more progressively and reconsider this decision. The Sri Lanka cabinet quit just hours after another South Asian country - Pakistan - saw heightened political developments with Imran Khan calling for fresh elections as a no confidence motion against him was rejected.

The 26-member Sri Lankan cabinet submitted letters of resignation - but not Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa amid rising public anger against the government ...

Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa issued a Gazette Notification on April 1, imposing a state of emergency in the country and saying that it is to ensure "public security and maintenance of public order. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Sri Lanka's has been in a free fall since the COVID-19 pandemic due to the crash of the tourism sector.

Amid Sri Lanka's worst crisis in decades, president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has invited all political parties in the country to join the 'unity government' to ...

to the President of my resignation from all portfolios with immediate effect, in hope that it may assist HE & PMs decision to establish stability for the people & the govt of #LKA. I remain committed to my voters, my party & the people of #Hambanthota. (sic).” The government, after declaring an emergency Friday, had restricted access to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media sites for almost 15 hours. Rajapaksa called on the opposition to "work together", news agency AFP reported.