Sri Lanka Crisis : Important updates from your Neighbouring country that you shouldn’t miss!

Highlights:

7 Big Things Happened in amid Sri Lanka crisis
Will the new PM and cabinet bring back normalcy to Sri Lanka?
Rajapaksa’s bid to calm tempers
India denies Speculative reports

Sri Lanka Crisis: The unrest in Sri Lanka has intensified severely. The country saw its most violent days of protest in recent weeks. It is rocked by deadly violence and rioting. Sri Lankan authorities issued shoot at sight orders on 10 May 2022. The order passed to crush the unrest and extinguish burning buildings and vehicles.

Thousands of security forces deployed in the Capital, Colombo, where military and police personnel enforce a curfew and maintain peace. However, Protests continued to take a violent turn despite the curfew.

7 Big Things Happened in amid Sri Lanka crisis

Hungry people in Sri Lanka beat journalists and burn politicians' villas. pic.twitter.com/tmfG6q3WTv

— RadioGenova (@RadioGenova) May 10, 2022

· Amid the arson by angry protesters, the defence ministry has ordered troops to ‘shoot at sight’ anyone caught destroying public property or causing harm to life.

· The mob also set the homes of several ministers and ex-ministers on fire over poor economic management.

· Eight people, including two police officers and a ruling party lawmaker, were killed.

· PM Mahinda Rajpaksha quit his post on 9 May 2022 amid clashes.

· Lawmaker Amarakeerthi Athukorala opened fire on demonstrators blocking his vehicle. The firing left, killing a 27-year-old man and wounding two others.

· Police said the MP took his own life later.

· Dozens of buses were torched as men armed with sticks and rods established roadblocks on the routes leading to and from the airport.

Will the new PM and cabinet bring back normalcy to Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka’s embattled president Gotabaya Rajapaksha has promised a new PM and cabinet within a week. The Lankan president said that the new PM would make constitutional reforms to end the crisis in a televised address. After discussing with the new cabinet, President Rajapaksa said he was ready to abolish the executive presidency.

Rajapaksa’s bid to calm tempers

Amid widespread unrest in Lanka, President Rajapaksha’s ample amount of assurance

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Steps will be taken to form a new gov to prevent the country falling into anarchy & to maintain the affairs of the state that have come to a halt.

A PM who commands majority in Parliament & is able to secure the confidence of the people will be appointed within this week.

— Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) May 12, 2022

· Will appoint a young cabinet without any of the Rajapaksas

· The new Prime Minister will take Sri Lanka forward

· The new government’s PM will produce a new program and take this country forward.

· A constitutional amendment will be moved to enact the content of the 19th amendment to the constitution, which will vest more powers with the parliament.

However, the assurance doesn’t make any difference in Protesters’ behaviour, who are adamant in their demand for Gotabaya Rajpaksha’s resignation. Also, the opposition denied the offer of a unity government without constitutional change, reducing the presidency’s powers.

“He needs to give the country a timeframe on what will happen. This is one way he can redeem himself as a statesman before things get worse.” Jehan Perera, executive director at the National Peace Council in Colombo, said the president.

India denies Speculative reports

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. (1/2)

— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) May 11, 2022

Several claims are made on behalf of India. However, India comes down heavily on Fake news linked to Sri Lanka.

The Indian high commission has categorically denied reports of New Delhi sending troops to Colombo. The spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India clearly stated that India is fully supported by Sri Lankan democracy, stability, and economic recovery.

At the same time, the whereabouts of the Rajapaksha family is being speculated. The Indian High Commission has rejected reports of him fleeing to India.

This is Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis in the nation’s history. People can no longer afford essential items, including food and fuel.