Sri Lanka crisis highlights: Fuel-starved Colombo gets first of three shipments; Gotabaya Rajapaksa says he ‘took all possible steps’ to prevent crisis

Sri Lanka's economy is likely to contract by more than 6% this year as political instability and social unrest affect discussions on financial relief with the IMF, the country's central bank governor told The Wall Street Journal in an interview. (Reuters)

Deputy High Commissioner Vinod K Jacob on Saturday handed over dry rations worth SLR 80 million to Department of Probations and Child Care Services, Sri Lanka.

People of #India stands in solidarity with their brethren in #SriLanka. Deputy High Commissioner @VinodKJacob76 handed over dry rations worth SLR 80 million to the Department of Probations and Child Care Services on behalf of @ColomboExpats . (1/2) pic.twitter.com/MXxzcx0VsR

— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) July 16, 2022

A little more than a month ago, the Sri Lankan government told its Olympic association to “forget” about participating in the Commonwealth Games to be held in the UK. With the island nation bankrupt, out of fuel and short on food supplies, its government was in no mood to entertain the request to fund what would be Sri Lanka’s largest-ever contingent for the Games, which begins in Birmingham on July 28.

Danish Ali was 18 when Gotabaya Rajapaksa became a hero. It was 2009. Gotabaya, then the Defence Secretary, along with his brother and then President Mahinda Rajapaksa, were hailed for killing LTTE supremo V Prabhakaran and ending Sri Lanka’s decades-long civil war.

“I had just passed out of school, and I left for Australia to study soon after,” Ali says. “At that time, everyone was cheering him on as the great leader…but my family knew he was a racist and that they were invoking Sinhala pride to dominate over the minorities in the country.”

The past few months changed everything — both for Sri Lanka as well as Gotabaya. Read more

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, once Sri Lanka’s most feared figure, rumoured to run clandestine death squads, who struck dread among the press, bore down upon minorities, and whose links to the military were iron-clad, has fled the nation of which he was president, and two days later, tendered his resignation via an email.

It is a surreal consequence of several surreal months on the island. Months in which an unprecedented public uprising has put extraordinary pressure on the nation’s political establishment, particularly those within it who are accused of contributing to the harrowing economic crisis that has left many destitute. Read full Opinion piece here

India on Saturday assured Sri Lanka that it will continue to support democracy, stability and economic recovery in the country, which is at a crucial juncture, amid the unprecedented political crisis and economic turmoil.

The assurance was given to Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena by India’s High Commissioner Gopal Baglay when he called on the Sri Lankan leader.

The meeting took place a day after Speaker Abeywardena accepted the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Read more

Sri Lankan cricketer Chamika Karunaratne has praised India for its help during the economic and political crisis faced by the island nation.

"India is like a brother country to us. They are helping us a lot. I would like to thank them. We know we are having a big problem and India always supports us. We have a rich history with India. We know that we are struggling, but thanks to India for everything and we will keep getting better and better," said the cricketer. (ANI)

India is like brother to us, helping us a lot: Sri Lankan cricketer Karunaratne amid ongoing crisis

Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/V15usnz5MO#ChamikaKarunaratne #SriLankaCrisis #SriLanka pic.twitter.com/Nk0ndtbgYz

— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) July 16, 2022

Jathika Jana Balawegaya leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka has announced his candidacy for the post of President. He is currently a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Leader of the Jathika Jana balawegaya NPP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake has decided to contest for the Presidency at the elections on July 20.
#LKA #SriLanka #SriLankaCrisis pic.twitter.com/312pRBpLvD

— Sri Lanka Tweet ?? ? (@SriLankaTweet) July 16, 2022

Four main contenders have emerged for the vacant post of the President of Sri Lanka following Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation. They are:

1. Ranil Wickremesinghe: The interim President, current Prime Minister and a close ally of the Rajapaksa family. He is a member of the United National Party and has support from the SLPP. 

1. Sajith Premadasa: The current Leader of Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya party MP. (Read an interview with him)

1. Dullas Alahapperuma: Former Cabinet Minister and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna member. As SLPP has pledged support for Wickremesinghe, his chances of winning the election are low. 

1. Anura Kumara Dissanayake: Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party leader and former Cabinet Minister. 

Sri Lanka will implement a National Fuel Pass to monitor the fuel consumption of vehicles as Sri Lanka looks to tide over the fuel crisis without further disruptions. 

Introduction to the National Fuel Pass will be held @ 12.30pm. A guaranteed weekly fuel quota will be allocated. 1 Vehicle per 1 NIC, QR code allocated once Vehicle Chassis number & details verified. 2 days of the week according to Last Digit of number plate for fueling with QR. https://t.co/hLMI9Nm5ZF

— Kanchana Wijesekera (@kanchana_wij) July 16, 2022

"Introduction to the National Fuel Pass will be held @ 12.30pm. A guaranteed weekly fuel quota will be allocated. 1 Vehicle per 1 NIC, QR code allocated once Vehicle Chassis number & details verified. 2 days of the week according to Last Digit of number plate for fueling with QR," Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said.

Sri Lanka received the first of three fuel shipments on Saturday, Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said. These are the first shipments to reach the country in about three weeks.

1st Diesel cargo consignment arrived early this morning in Colombo & the quality sample checking is underway. The 2nd Diesel cargo will arrive later today and will follow the same procedure. 1st Petrol Cargo due to arrive 18-19th as of now. Payments completed for all 3.

— Kanchana Wijesekera (@kanchana_wij) July 16, 2022

A second diesel consignment will also arrive on Saturday, with a shipment of petrol due by Tuesday.

"Payments completed for all 3," the minister said in a tweet. (Reuters)

Army soldiers patrol in a boat outside the parliament building in Colombo, Sri Lanka, as lawmakers meet inside for a brief special session to announce the vacancy in presidency. 

Pakistan took early advantage in the first cricket test against Sri Lanka by reducing the hosts to 80 for four at lunch on the first day Saturday. Sri Lanka had elected to bat first at the Galle International Stadium after winning the toss in good batting conditions, but the team's batsmen failed to live up to expectations with several soft dismissals.

Sri Lanka are struggling as they are 80/4 on lunch whereas Pakistan's Yasir Shah grabbed two wickets.#SLvPAK #SriLanka #Pakistan #BabarAzam #DimuthKarunaratne #cricket #CricTracket #YasirShah pic.twitter.com/FQc5RpvDCK

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) July 16, 2022

Captain Dimuth Karunaratne dragged a Shaeen Afridi delivery onto his stumps for 1 and then a 49-run stand followed for the second wicket between Oshada Fernando and Kusal Mendis. Then Sri Lanka lost three wickets for the addition of just eight runs, slumping to 68 for four after being 60 for one. (AP)

India on Saturday assured Sri Lanka that it will continue to support democracy, stability and economic recovery in the country, which is at a crucial juncture, amid the unprecedented political crisis and economic turmoil.

High Commissioner called on Hon’ble Speaker today morning. Appreciated Parliament's role in upholding democracy and Constitutional framework, especially at this crucial juncture. Conveyed that ?? will continue to be supportive of democracy, stability and economic recovery in ??. pic.twitter.com/apXeVWCnMA

— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) July 16, 2022

Amidst the political confusion, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat against Pakistan in the first cricket test against Pakistan at the Galle International Stadium on Saturday. The hosts made two changes to the team that won the second test against Australia by an innings earlier this week.

Dimuth Karunaratne won the toss and opted to bat first.

? Match Centre: https://t.co/rY5J1wPvWL

? LIVE Streaming: https://t.co/oru4bTD9it (Only in SL)#SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/UJ43z1oesM

— Sri Lanka Cricket ?? (@OfficialSLC) July 16, 2022

Opening batsman Pathum Nissanka was left out as he is recovering from Covid-19 with Oshada Fernando replacing him. Middle order batsman Kamindu Mendis, who made a half-century on debut, made way for Dhananjaya de Silva, who is returning after Covid. For Pakistan, all-rounder Salman Agha is making his debut. The second match in the two-test series begins July 24 in Colombo. (PTI)

Teams

Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha and Prabath Jayasuriya

Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Salman Agha, Shaheen Afridi and Yasir Shah.

Over six million people or over 28 per cent of Sri Lanka's population are "food insecure" and this situation is likely to deteriorate as the crisis unfolds in the island nation which is grappling with its worst economic crisis, the World Food Programme has said.

?Colombo. Rice?mixed with a bit of?katchup is all Damayanthi could provide for her children.

Amid an unprecedented economic crisis, 6 million Sri Lankans ??don't have enough to eat. Parents are eating less or skipping meals so that their children can eat. #SriLankaCrisis pic.twitter.com/lhLZTgbkFS

— WFP Asia Pacific (@WFPAsiaPacific) July 13, 2022

Sri Lanka is currently reeling under a severe foreign exchange crisis with falling reserves and the government is unable to foot the bill for essential imports. The WFP on Friday said in a situation report that 6.3 million people (28.3 per cent) in the country are food insecure and this is likely to deteriorate as the crisis unfolds.

Of these, at least 65,600 people are severely food insecure. WFP warned that these figures could increase drastically without immediate intervention, the report added. WFP said skyrocketing food costs are making it harder for the population to meet their food needs. About 6.7 million people are not consuming adequate diets and 5.3 million people are reducing the number of meals eaten. (PTI)

“I served my motherland to the best of my ability and I will continue to do so in the future,” former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said, as he defended himself in his resignation letter which was read out during a special session of Parliament on Saturday.

Secretary-General of Parliament reads the letter of resignation by @GotabayaR #SriLanka #lka pic.twitter.com/OIPJyqbEez

— Kalani Kumarasinghe (@KalaniWrites) July 16, 2022

The United Nations in Sri Lanka has urged all stakeholders in the island nation to ensure a peaceful transition of power in full respect for the Constitution and to ensure that the root causes of the current instability and people's grievances are addressed.

Following the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Hanaa Singer-Hamdy said in a statement on Friday that it is imperative that the transition of power is accompanied by broad and inclusive consultation within and outside Parliament.

The @UNSriLanka urges all stakeholders to ensure a peaceful transition of power with full respect for the Constitution. It is important that the root causes of the current instability and the people’s grievances are addressed.
Full statement ?https://t.co/vkw5JVZPrU pic.twitter.com/NhR0X1QAyI

— Hanaa Singer-Hamdy (@SingerHanaa) July 15, 2022

“The United Nations in Sri Lanka urges all stakeholders to ensure a peaceful transition of power in full respect for the Constitution. It is important that the root causes of the current instability and the people's grievances are addressed. Dialogue with all stakeholders is the best way to address the concerns and fulfil the aspirations of all Sri Lankans,” she said. (PTI)

Sri Lanka's Parliament met in a brief special session on Saturday to announce the vacancy in the presidency following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. 

During the 13-minute special session, Dhammika Dassanayake, Secretary General of Parliament, announced the vacancy for the post of president. Former president Rajapaksa's resignation letter was read during the session.

“According to section 4 of the presidential elections (special provisions) Act No 2 of 1981 the parliament should be convened within three days after the vacancy occurs," Janakantha de Silva, Parliament's director of communications, said earlier. (PTI)

It wasn’t only demonstrators that wanted Gotabaya Rajapaksa out of office: Even other members of his family saw him as a lame-duck leader. And one in particular, his 36-year-old nephew Namal Rajapaksa, has already been thinking of how the dynasty can restore its reputation over the long term even as the increasingly violent protests had some observers wondering if the whole family would be forced into exile.

In a recent interview at the ruling party’s office in Colombo, which was vandalised by a mob during the May 9 violence, Namal said that Gotabaya “should complete his term and then go.” He described the family’s current predicament as a “temporary setback,” adding that the goal now was “to provide as much stability as we can to address the basic needs of the people, and in the meantime work on long-term strategies.” Here's Namal said. 

Sri Lankan cricketer Chamika Karunaratne told news agency ANI that he has been standing in queue for two days to fill fuel and he filled it for Rs. 10,000 which will last him for two to three days. 

#WATCH | Sri Lankan cricketer Chamika Karunaratne speaks to ANI; says, "We've to go for practices in Colombo&to different other places as club cricket season is on but I've been standing in queue for fuel for past 2 days. I got it filled for Rs 10,000 which will last 2-3 days..." pic.twitter.com/MkLyPQSNbZ

— ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2022

"India is like a brother country & they are helping us a lot. I thank them so much. We have problems. They are supporting us when we are struggling. Thank you so much for that. Thank you for everything. We will get better and better," he said. 

Opposition party Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said they will support interim president Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming presidential polls on July 20, reported Sri Lanka-based Daily Mirror.

A little more than a month ago, the Sri Lankan government told its Olympic association to “forget” about participating in the Commonwealth Games to be held in the UK. With the island nation bankrupt, out of fuel and short on food supplies, its government was in no mood to entertain the request to fund what would be Sri Lanka’s largest-ever contingent for the Games, which begins in Birmingham on July 28.

“The Treasury said they don’t have money. Forget about it,” Sri Lanka’s chef de mission Dampath Fernando told The Indian Express from Colombo on Friday. “We fell into a difficult, desperate situation.”

Sri Lanka’s opposition leader, who is seeking the presidency next week, vowed Friday to “listen to the people” who are struggling through the island nation’s worst economic crisis and to hold accountable the president who fled under pressure from protesters.

In an interview with The Associated Press from his office in the capital, Sajith Premadasa said that if he wins the election in parliament, he would ensure that “an elective dictatorship never, ever occurs” in Sri Lanka.

“That’s what we should do. That is our function — catching those who looted Sri Lanka. That should be done through proper constitutional, legal, democratic procedures,” Premadasa said. (Read more)

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, once Sri Lanka’s most feared figure, rumoured to run clandestine death squads, who struck dread among the press, bore down upon minorities, and whose links to the military were iron-clad, has fled the nation of which he was president, and two days later, tendered his resignation via an email.

It is a surreal consequence of several surreal months on the island. Months in which an unprecedented public uprising has put extraordinary pressure on the nation’s political establishment, particularly those within it who are accused of contributing to the harrowing economic crisis that has left many destitute. (Read more)

A demonstrator writes 'Ranil Go Home' on a ribbon to be used in the protest against the government which now has Ranil Wickremesinghe on the President's chair.

#SriLankaCrisis | A demonstrator writes 'Ranil Go Home' on a ribbon to be used in the protest against the government which now has Ranil Wickremesinghe at the President's chair.@ShubhajitRoy sends us visuals from ground zerohttps://t.co/27JCW3fKjs pic.twitter.com/XjQ2FQSs6k

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) July 15, 2022

Sri Lanka's top court on Friday barred former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa from leaving the country without permission until July 28, anti-corruption group Transparency International Sri Lanka said.

Three other former officials, including two former central bank governors, also cannot travel outside the country without the court's permission till July 28, the group said in a tweet. --Reuters

ri Lanka, a popular destination for holidaymakers, should be teeming with tourists at this time of year. Instead, an unprecedented economic crisis and political turmoil have all but wreaked its tourism with about 40 per cent of the pre-bookings being cancelled recently.

Tourism accounts for about 5 per cent of Sri Lanka's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with Britain, India and China being the main markets. Sri Lanka is facing its worst foreign exchange crisis after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the island nation's earnings from tourism and remittances. --PTI

Sri Lanka's interim President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday decided to prohibit the use of the word 'His Excellency' to address the President and abolished the presidential flag, as he underlined his commitment to protecting democracy and the Constitution of the crisis-hit country.

“Rather than protecting individuals, protect the country,” Wickremesinghe, who is also the prime minister, said after he was sworn in as Sri Lanka's acting president until Parliament elects a successor to Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who resigned after protests against his government for mishandling the economy that bankrupted the country.

He said as the acting President he decided to prohibit the use of the word ‘His Excellency' when addressing the President. --PTI

India is doing as much as possible to be with neighbour Sri Lanka in its time of crisis, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said after launching stealth frigate in Kolkata. --PTI

Gevindu Kumaratunga, MP of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party told news agency ANI that the Opposition has decided on a schedule to select the next President.

"After receiving the nominations, a new President will be decided upon on Wednesday after voting," he added. 

Sri Lanka's newly appointed acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Friday that he would follow constitutional process and establish law and order in the country.

Wickremesinghe, who was appointed acting President after Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned from his post on Thursday, asked lawmakers to work towards a consensus to establish an all-party government in the crisis-ridden country. (Reuters)

Sri Lanka is continuing negotiations with China for as much as $4 billion in aid and is confident Beijing will agree "at some point," Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing Sri Lanka's ambassador to China.

Colombo is asking China for a loan of $1 billion to repay an equivalent amount of Chinese debt coming due this year, Palitha Kohona said in an interview with Bloomberg.

Sri Lanka is also seeking a $1.5 billion credit line to pay for Chinese imports and activation of a $1.5 billion swap, Kohona added. (Reuters)

Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lanka's top leader for the second time in two months. Sri Lankan Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya read out the oath swearing in Wickremesinghe as the interim President. 

#WATCH | Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as Acting-President a short while ago by Sri Lankan Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya#SriLanka pic.twitter.com/odjNmfd4cf

— ANI (@ANI) July 15, 2022

Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the country's acting president on Friday, a government official said.

Quiet scenes outside the Presidential Secretariat as Ranil Wickremesinghe now the Interim President of #SriLanka pic.twitter.com/dVbgNDQJRx

— Jamila Husain (@Jamz5251) July 15, 2022

Wickremesinghe had already taken on the role after former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country on Wednesday following months of anti-government protests. (Reuters)

Nominations for the post of Sri Lankan President will be received on July 19 and the ballot will be held on July 20, reported Daily Mirror quoting the Speaker. 

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Friday that nearly 5.7 million people in Sri Lanka are in need of life-saving assistance, underscoring the magnitude of the problems faced by the crisis-hit country.

???#SriLanka

??"Nearly 5.7 million people are in need of life-saving assistance. To date, only 15% of the US$47M requested under the plan to support more than 1.5 million vulnerable people through September has been received."
-@UN_Spokesperson

?https://t.co/5L4DVt1SEY pic.twitter.com/bxo88Zj4ER

— UN OCHA Asia Pacific (@OCHAAsiaPac) July 15, 2022

The precise reasons are not known yet, but there is little doubt that even as a stopover, Rajapaksa would be at home in Singapore. The Rajapaksa family has strong connections in Singapore, and both brothers Mahinda and Gotabaya have travelled frequently to the small city-state for medical reasons.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa underwent a heart bypass surgery at Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital in May 2019, months before the presidential election of that year, which he won. His doctor there was reported to be a Sri Lankan Tamil. (Read more)

An aeroplane believed to have carried Sri Lankan leader Gotabaya Rajapaksa from the Maldives to Singapore was the world’s most-tracked flight on Thursday, reported Bloomberg.

Saudia flight 788 from Male was being tracked by almost 5,000 users as of 7.43 a.m. GMT, said the report quoting data from Flightradar24.com.

Sri Lankan Speaker urges public to allow a peaceful environment for all MPs to take part in the process which should finish within 7 days. He added that the Parliament will meet on Saturday.  (PTI)

The speaker of parliament in crisis-hit Sri Lanka has accepted a resignation letter from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, having verified its authenticity after it was flown from Singapore late on Thursday, he told reporters.

#WATCH | Yes resignation has been accepted, legal process will follow...Members will be invited tomorrow (to elect a President): Sri Lanka Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywarden confirms President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation pic.twitter.com/jLomNW64Cq

— ANI (@ANI) July 15, 2022

'From this point, we will move to constitutionally appoint a new president,' the speaker, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, said on Friday.

Rajapaksa arrived in Singapore following a stopover in the Maldives, after he fled Sri Lanka amid a wave of unrest as his island nation grapples with its worst economic crisis in decades.  (Reuters)

An aide to the speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament issued a statement that said the speaker had received the president's resignation through the Sri Lankan Embassy in Singapore, but there was no immediate official announcement.

An announcement was planned for Friday after the authenticity and legality of the letter are verified, the statement said.As word of the resignation spread, jubilant crowds gathered near the president’s office to celebrate. (Reuters)

For years, Sri Lanka’s Rajapaksa dynasty ruled the island nation with an iron fist, striking fear into political opponents, journalists and other perceived threats to their power. Now protesters are chasing them out of their homes, and out of power.

But it wasn’t only demonstrators that wanted Rajapaksa out of office: Even other members of his family saw him as a lame-duck leader. And one in particular, his 36-year-old nephew Namal Rajapaksa, has already been thinking of how the dynasty can restore its reputation over the long term even as the increasingly violent protests had some observers wondering if the whole family would be forced into exile. (Read more)

When I first met Mahinda Rajapaksa at a conference of women panchayat members at Avdhash Kaushal’s training institute in Dehradun in the mid-Nineties, he was a modest backbencher in the Sri Lankan parliament with an impassioned interest in local self-government which he believed was the only way to govern his fractious nation. Empowering the people for self-government seemed to be his primary preoccupation. When he became PM, he invited me, as Minister of Panchayati Raj, to Colombo to address a mammoth meeting of elected local government representatives gathered from all over the island-nation in the impressive Bandaranaike Hall (their equivalent of our Vigyan Bhawan) and obliged most of his cabinet ministers to also attend. This was followed by a detailed interaction with a group of experts he had put together to draft an amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution that drew its inspiration from our 73rd and 74th amendments, initiated by Rajiv Gandhi.

Maldives government has granted diplomatic clearance for a Sri Lanka Air Force aircraft carrying Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his spouse, on a transit visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday.

"President Rajapaksa left to Singapore on 14 July 2022," the statement added.  (Reuters)

Crowds set off firecrackers, shouted slogans and danced ecstatically at the Gota Go Gama protest site, named mockingly after Rajapaksa's first name.

"The whole country will celebrate today," Damitha Abeyrathne, an activist, said. "It's a big victory."

"We never thought we would get this country free from them," she added, referring to the Rajapaksa family who dominated the South Asian country's politics for two decades. (Reuters)

Protesters vacated administrative buildings in Sri Lanka on July 14, saying they did not want to damage public property. Shubhajit Roy reports from ground zero.

#SriLankaCrisis | Protesters vacated administrative buildings in Sri Lanka on July 14, saying they did not want to damage public property. @ShubhajitRoy reports from ground zero pic.twitter.com/SnK6cJ7Lh4

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) July 14, 2022

Protesters, who captured the Prime Minister's office, pose for pictures at the prime minister's office, sitting on the chair where Mahinda Rajapaksa and recently, Ranil Wickremesinghe used to sit.

"Speaker has now received the resignation letter of President Rajapaksa through Singapore Embassy in Sri Lanka. Speaker is informed that after re-checking data and completing all legal proceedings, official announcement in this regard will be announced tomorrow," Sri Lanka Speaker's Press Secretary said. (ANI) 

Sri Lanka president Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday emailed his resignation letter to the parliamentary speaker. Rajapaksa, who fled Sri Lanka with his wife on Wednesday, has been allowed entry into Singapore on a private visit. According to Singapore foreign ministry, Rajapaksa has neither asked for asylum, nor has he been granted asylum.

Singapore has confirmed that Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled Sri Lanka with his wife on Wednesday, has been allowed entry into the country (Singapore) on a private visit. According to Singapore foreign ministry, Rajapaksa has neither asked for asylum, nor has he been granted asylum.

The protests fuelled by the economic crisis flared in Sri Lanka again this week as the protesters stormed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence, forcing the leader to flee the country. Though the protesters had called for the President’s resignation, Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that Gotabaya is yet to send in the letter hours after the promised time.

The anti-government protesters, who forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from his official residence at the weekend, announced that they will vacate key buildings they have overrun.

Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is reported to have left Maldives on a Saudia flight bound for Singapore. Even as a stopover, Gotabaya would be at home in the small city-state Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has flown out of Maldives aboard a Saudia flight bound for Singapore, the AP reported on Thursday (July 14) afternoon quoting an unnamed Maldives official. Gotabaya and his wife had arrived in the Maldives early on Wednesday after fleeing Sri Lanka in the middle of the night. Read More

Sri Lankan soldiers have been authorised to use necessary force to prevent destruction of property and life, the country's army said in a statement on Thursday. (Reuters)

No calls to a “neutral umpire”. No politicians making grand promises. No religious leaders spreading communal hatred. Just people. Or better still, peoples — Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindus. Students, their parents and grandparents, professionals – teachers, nurses, lawyers, bankers, doctors, computer engineers.

From April 9 to July 9, as an economic crisis brought about by a dollar shortage suddenly manifested in crippling shortages of food, fuel and medicines, Sri Lankans of all hues congregated at Colombo’s Galle Face oceanfront, with only one demand: “Gota Go Home”. They had no leaders but they were well-organised. Fastidiously, they cleaned up the protest site every morning and evening, as if to convey the cleaning up of Sri Lanka itself. Out of the plastic waste, they created artwork on the promenade. (Read more)