Sri Lanka prime minister resigns, curfew imposed after clashes

[Stevicus]

Sri Lanka prime minister resigns, curfew imposed after clashes | Reuters

COLOMBO, May 9 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's prime minister resigned on Monday, hours after clashes with pro- and anti-government demonstrators in the commercial capital Colombo amid the country's worst economic crisis that has spurred protests by thousands.

During weeks of unprecedented demonstrations, protesters across the island nation of 22 million people have demanded that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his elder brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, quit for mishandling the economy.

In a statement, the prime minister's office said the 76-year-old veteran politician had resigned.

"A few moments ago, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa sent his letter of resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa," the statement said.

In the letter, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, the prime minister said he was quitting to help form an interim, unity government.

"Multiple stakeholders have indicated the best solution to the present crisis is the formation of an interim all-party government," the letter said.

"Therefore, I have tendered my resignation so the next steps can be taken in accordance with the Constitution."

His departure came during a day of chaos and violence which culminated in police imposing a curfew across the country.

The confrontation began with hundreds of ruling party supporters rallying outside the prime minister's official residence before marching to an anti-government protest site outside the presidential office.

Police had formed a line ahead of time on the main road leading towards the site but did little to stop pro-government protesters from advancing, according to a Reuters witness.

Pro-government supporters, some armed with iron bars, attacked anti-government demonstrators at the "Gota Go Gama" tent village that sprang up last month and became the focal point of nationwide protests.

Police used tear gas rounds and water cannon to break up the confrontation, the first major clash between pro-and anti-government supporters since the protests began in late March.

At least nine people were taken to Colombo's National Hospital for treatment relating to injuries or tear-gas inhalation, a hospital official said, declining to be named.

"This is a peaceful protest," Pasindu Senanayaka, an anti-government protestor told Reuters. "They attacked Gota Go Gama and set fire to our tents."

"We are helpless now, we are begging for help," Senanayaka said, as black smoke spiralled out of a burning tent nearby and parts of the protest camp lay in disarray.

Dozens of paramilitary troops with riot shields and helmets were deployed to keep both groups apart after the initial clashes. The army said it had also deployed soldiers in the area.

"Strongly condemn the violent acts taking place by those inciting & participating, irrespective of political allegiances," President Rajapaksa said in a tweet. "Violence won't solve the current problems."

Hit hard by the pandemic, rising oil prices and tax cuts, Sri Lanka has as little as $50 million of useable foreign reserves, Finance Minister Ali Sabry said last week.

The government has approached the International Monetary Fund for a bailout, and will begin a virtual summit on Monday with IMF officials aimed at securing emergency assistance.

Facing escalating anti-government protests, Rajapaksa's government last week declared a state of emergency for the second time in five weeks, but public discontent has steadily simmered.

Long queues for cooking gas in recent days have frequently turned into impromptu protests as frustrated consumers blocked roads. Domestic energy companies said they were running low on stocks of liquid petroleum gas mainly used for cooking.

Sri Lanka needs at least 40,000 tonnes of gas each month, and the monthly import bill would be $40 million at current prices.

"We are a bankrupt nation," said W.H.K Wegapitiya, chairman of Laugfs Gas, one of the country's two main gas suppliers.

"Banks don't have sufficient dollars for us to open lines of credit and we cannot go to the black market. We are struggling to keep our businesses afloat."

The most critical issue at present seems to be a shortage of cooking gas. Sri Lanka needs to import at least 40,000 tons of gas each month, costing $40 million a month which they don't have. They've requested a bailout from the IMF. The protesters were demanding the resignation of the prime minister for mishandling the economy.

 

[sun rise]

The most critical issue at present seems to be a shortage of cooking gas.

I have to wonder if the economy was really mishandled or if the problem(s) are beyond the control of the government. At least I've seen people in the US take credit for economic developments that they did not cause and be blamed for problems that are beyond government to solve.

 

[Lyndon]

It was and is a very corrupt government

 

[Lyndon]

I mean the prime minister and the President are brothers, both with terrible reputations

 

[Subduction Zone]

It was and is a very corrupt government

That could be, but the economic crisis may not have been his fault. And I have no problem with them getting a new government, but doing so for bad reasons can lead to more unrest when the new government cannot solve its economic woes either.

The whole world is hurting right now due to the shutdowns taken to fight Covid. I am not opposing those shutdowns, but one has to realize that there was a cost to them. I still think the shutdowns were preferrable to the inevitable massive deaths that would have occurred if hospitals were overrun with Covid cases that it could not treat.

 

[JIMMY12345]

Extravagances includes Hambantota port $1.4 billion Chinese loans.A equally unused airport and conference centre. The aim was to rival Dubai with none of its attractions.They should have read a copy of Schumacher's "Small is beautiful"

 

[Stevicus]

Sri Lanka president, PM to resign after tumultuous protests | AP News

Sri Lanka crisis: Protesters swim in president's pool - BBC News

They stormed the presidential palace and swam in the president's pool.

 

[JIMMY12345]

Sri Lanka president, PM to resign after tumultuous protests | AP News

Sri Lanka crisis: Protesters swim in president's pool - BBC News

They stormed the presidential palace and swam in the president's pool.

Check out the Rajapaksa airport - virtually unused
The Rajapaksa Depp sea port - Want a nice waste of money?
or the Rajapaksa International cricket stadium - a slightly less waste of money

The country is in hock to China who provided the massive loans.The Chinese are smart they will not lose.They get the assets of the Country.
Lesson is for developing countries not to invest in expensive vanity projects especially those that only benefit the top 10%

 

[Stevicus]

Sri Lanka opposition meets to name new gov't amid turmoil | AP News

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s opposition parties met Sunday to agree on a new government a day after the country’s president and prime minister offered to resign following the most dramatic day of monthslong political turmoil, with protesters storming the leaders’ homes in a rage over the economic crisis.

Protesters remained in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence, his seaside office and the prime minister’s home, saying they would stay until the resignations are official. The president’s whereabouts were unknown, but a statement from his office said he ordered the immediate distribution of a cooking gas consignment to the public, suggesting that he was still at work.

Soldiers were deployed around the city but troops simply watched from afar as crowds of people splashed in the pool of Rajapaksa’s sprawling residence, lounged on beds and took selfies of themselves on their cellphones to capture the moment. The chief of defense staff, Shavendra Silva, called for public support to maintain law and order.

I note that the outgoing president announced the immediate distribution of a cooking gas consignment to the public. That seemed to be a major issue which led to the unrest.

The opposition parties are gathering to form a new government.

Occupants of the prime minister’s official residence cooked in an outdoor kitchen, played the tabletop game carrom and slept on sofas.

Ranjith Madduma Bandara, a top official in the main opposition United People’s Force, said that separate discussions were held with other parties and lawmakers who broke away from Rajapaksa’s ruling coalition and more meetings were planned. It was unclear when an agreement might be reached.

Another opposition lawmaker, M. A. Sumanthiran, said earlier that all opposition parties combined could easily muster the 113 members needed for a majority in Parliament, at which point they would call on Rajapaksa to install the new government and resign.

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. Pressure on both men had grown as the economic meltdown set off acute shortages of essential items, leaving people struggling to obtain food, fuel and other necessities.

If both president and prime minister resign, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena will take over as temporary president, according to the constitution.

Rajapaksa appointed Wickremesinghe as prime minister in May in an effort to solve the shortages and start economic recovery.

Wickremesinghe had been part of crucial talks with the International Monetary Fund for a bailout program and with the World Food Program to prepare for a predicted food crisis. The government must submit a plan on debt sustainability to the IMF in August before reaching an agreement.

Analysts say it is doubtful any new leader could do more than Wickremesinghe. His government’s efforts showed promise, with much-needed fertilizer being distributed to farmers for next season’s cultivation and cooking gas orders arriving in the country Sunday.

“This kind of unrest could create confusion among international organizations like the IMF and the World Bank,” political analyst Ranga Kalansooriya said, adding that a new administration should agree on a common program for economic recovery.

He said while Wickremesinghe was working in the right direction, his administration was not implementing a long-term plan to go with its focus on solving day-to-day problems.

It is unlikely that an all-party government will agree on IMF-backed economic reforms without some parties losing their political support.

Wickremesinghe said Saturday it was not proper for him to leave without a government in place.

“Today in this country we have a fuel crisis, a food shortage, we have the head of the World Food Program coming here and we have several matters to discuss with the IMF,” he said. “Therefore, if this government leaves there should be another government.”

Four Cabinet ministers have resigned since Saturday’s protests.

Even though both Wickremesinghe and Abeywardena, the parliament speaker, said in their speeches that they had spoken with the president, they did not say anything about his whereabouts.

Protesters also broke into the prime minister’s private residence and set it on fire during the melee on Saturday. A party official, Ruwan Wijewardena, said Wickremesinghe was inside when the protesters gathered but security officers removed him to a different location.

The US Secretary of State and the Vatican have weighed in and commented on the unrest.

Wijewardena said such acts will only polarize the society and political parties.

“If these kinds of incidents keep on going, we can wave bye-bye to the IMF and any international assistance that is going to come to the country,” he said. “If there is lawlessness, if there is no coming together among the political groups, there is no way the international community can come in and help this country.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington was tracking the developments in Sri Lanka and urged Parliament to work quickly to implement solutions and address the people’s discontent.

Speaking at a news conference in Bangkok, Blinken said the United States condemns attacks against the peaceful demonstrators while calling for a full investigation into any protest-related violence.

Pope Francis opened his Sunday remarks after noon prayers at the Vatican by voicing concern about Sri Lanka.

“I unite myself to the pain of the people of Sri Lanka, who continue to suffer the effects of the political and economic instability,” the pontiff said. “Together with the bishops of the country, I renew my appeal for peace, and I implore those who have authority not to ignore the cry of the poor and the needs of the people.’’

They're working on a bailout deal with the IMF, but the unrest and violence are complicating matters.

Sri Lanka is relying on aid from India and other nations as leaders try to negotiate a bailout with the IMF. Wickremesinghe said recently that negotiations with the IMF were complex because Sri Lanka was now a bankrupt state.

Sri Lanka announced in April that it was suspending repayment of foreign loans due to a foreign currency shortage. Its total foreign debt amounts to $51 billion, of which it must repay $28 billion by the end of 2027.

Months of demonstrations have all but dismantled the Rajapaksa political dynasty, which has ruled Sri Lanka for most of the past two decades but is accused by protesters of mismanagement and corruption. The president’s older brother resigned as prime minister in May after violent protests saw him seek safety at a naval base. He later moved into a house in Colombo.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Sri Lanka president, PM to resign after tumultuous protests | AP News

Sri Lanka crisis: Protesters swim in president's pool - BBC News

They stormed the presidential palace and swam in the president's pool.

Now that's an insurrection!

 

[Stevicus]

Photos show how protesters occupying the luxurious residences of Sri Lanka's president and PM have made themselves at home (msn.com)

 

[Stevicus]

Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa submits resignation after arriving in Singapore - UPI.com

He submitted his resignation by email.