Sri Lanka crisis Live News: Ex-President Rajapaksa to leave for Singapore from Maldives; PM Ranil Wickremesinghe tells military to ‘restore order’

‘Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will leave for Singapore later today’

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who left for the Maldives early this morning is to leave for Singapore later today, Sri Lanka’s Daily Mirror reports citing sources.

US Embassy in Sri Lanka cancels all consular services amid fresh protests

US Embassy in Sri Lanka on Wednesday cancelled its all consular services for today and tomorrow amid fresh protests. “Out of an abundance of caution, Consular is canceling our Wednesday afternoon services (American citizen services and NIV passback) as well as all consular services on Thursday. We apologize for any inconvenience and will reschedule all cancelled appointments,” tweeted US Embassy in Sri Lanka.

PM, President conspiring against people, says a Sri Lankan national amid raging protests

Amid raging protests in Sri Lanka due to the economic crisis, a national of the island nation on Wednesday blamed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has fled the country, for the current situation. “PM and President were conspiring against people. The President promised to resign on 13th July but he didn’t do that. So, you can see that people are angry & frustrated with the system, and with the President’s decisions. So, they occupied PM’s office,” ANI quoted Kalpraj, a Sri Lankan national, as saying. “There should be a legal procedure to bring him (President Gotabaya Rajapaksa) back to the country and at the same time, there are enough laws in Sri Lanka to punish such criminals,” he added.

‘Can’t allow fascists to take over’: Sri Lanka PM tells military and police to ‘restore order’

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe instructed the military and police “to do what is necessary to restore order”, he said in a televised statement Wednesday after protesters stormed his office. The demonstrators “want to stop me from discharging my responsibilities as acting president”, he added. “We can’t allow fascists to take over.”

Sri Lanka PM tells military and police to ‘restore order’: televised statement

Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday told the military and police to ‘restore order’ in a televised statement. The statement comes after the protestors entered the premises of the PM’s office building in Colombo as the fury of the protests intensifies in the country.

Sri Lanka crisis LIVE: Protesters take over PM’s office in Colombo

Protesters have taken over the Prime Minister’s office in Colombo. So far, 24 people have been injured and hospitalised during the protest at the Prime Minister’s Office at Flower Road.

President Gotabaya pledges to resign as promised earlier: Speaker

Sri Lankan Speaker says President telephoned him a short while ago and pledged to resign as earlier promised. The letter to this effect will be sent to the Speaker within the day and new President will be elected in Parliament on July 20 as planned.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksha to travel to Singapore next – Sources

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksha, who fled to Maldives this morning, will next travel to Singapore, according to sources.

US Embassy in Sri Lanka cancels its all consular services

The US Embassy in Sri Lanka today canceled its all consular services due to fresh protests against interim President Ranil Wickremesinghe. In a tweet, it said: “Out of an abundance of caution, Consular is canceling our Wednesday afternoon services (American citizen services and NIV passback) as well as all consular services on Thursday. We apologize for any inconvenience and will reschedule all canceled appointments.”

Sri Lanka’s national TV goes off-air as protesters storm into its office

Sri Lanka’s national TV channel Rupavahini Corporation has gone off-air as it suspended its telecasts amid its premises being surrounded by protesters in Colombo.

Sri Lanka national TV suspends telecast

Amid massive protests, Sri Lanka’s national TV has suspended broadcast. Earlier today, the angry protesters had stromed into the tower. Now, the army has taken over the TV station.

Sri Lanka crisis: Protests intensify as Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed as interim President

Protesters have intensified their protests over Ranil Wickremesiinghe’s appointment as interim President. Protesters want Wickremesinghe to quit and let someone else take over as the chief executive till the time new leader is elected by the Parliament.

PM becomes acting President only if President appoints him: Sri Lanka LoP Sajith Premadasa

Sri Lanka LoP Sajith Premadasa: “PM becomes acting President only if the President appoints him as such, or if the office of President is vacant, or if the CJ in consultation with the Speaker forms the view that the President is unable to act. In the absence of any of these, the PM cannot exercise the powers of President, and cannot declare curfew or a state of emergency.”

Sri Lanka crisis deepens: Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed as interim President

Despite heavy protests against him, Ranil Wickremesinghe has been apointed as interim President of Sri Lanka. This is likely to fuel ongoing protests in Colombo. Thousands of protesters today storm Wickremesinghe’s residence.

Clarify how govt gave refuge to Gotabaya: Maldives National Party to submit motion in Parliament

The parliamentary group of the Maldives National Party will be submitting a motion to the Parliament (Majlis) to clarify how Maldives government acted in giving refuge to President Gotabaya.

Ranil Wickremesinghe declares state of emergency as acting President: Report

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared a state of emergency as the acting president after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives earlier today, as per Reuters.

Sri Lanka crisis: Next President will be for an interim period – Opposition MP

Amid massive protests against PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lankan Opposition MP Patali Champika Ranawaka says the President has left country without signing his resignation. The Speaker and whole country hoped that he would send his resignation properly, so that within next week the Parliament can elect another president. “Next President will be for an interim period. They are not going to contest elections next time. LoP Sajith Premadasa has shown his intention for same. Presidential elections can’t be held at this juncture, as per the constitution it should be in held 2024,” he says.

Sri Lanka upheaval: Military personnel used tear gas shells to disperse protesters

Sri Lanka crisis: Hundreds of angry protesters today entered the residence of the Prime Minister. Military personnel used tear gas shells to disperse protestors who scaled the wall to enter PM’s residence in Colombo.

Sri Lanka declares state of emergency after President flees to Maldives

Sri Lanka has declared the state of emergency, AFP reported citing PM’s office. This morning, President Goatabaya Rajapaksa fled to Maldives.

Sri Lanka crisis LIVE: After Gotabaya flees, thousands hit streets seeking to stop Ranil’s takeover as interim President

Sri Lanka crisis: Former Advisor to Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs ministry says the protesters want the Prime Minister to resign because as per constitution if the President resigns, the PM becomes the acting President. “People want both of them to leave. Police took action by tear gas shelling. Army troops moved in,” he adds.

Sri Lanka crisis deepens: Heavy military presence at PM’s residence in Colombo

Sri Lanka crisis: Amid massive protests against Ranil Wickremesinghe, heavy military deployment has been made at prime minister’s residence in Colombo. Thousands of protestors are heading towards the PM’s office in the capital city.

Colombo chaos: Protestors head towards Sri Lankan PM’s office

Sri Lanka crisis: Thousands of protestors are heading towards Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinighe’s office as protest broke out again in Colombo. They are opposing Wickremesinighe’s taking over as interim President. This is happening after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today fled the country and he is expected to resign by today evening. As per Sri Lanka’s constitution, Prime Minister takes over as interim President if President resigns. The protesters are against Ranil as he was chosen by Gotabaya.

Sri Lanka crisis LIVE: High drama expected at PM’s house in Colombo, 10,000 protestors marching

Sri Lanka crisis: High drama is expected at the Prime Minister’s house in Colombo as around 10,000 protestors are marching towards the house. His private residence was torched by angry protesters last week. He resigned from the post on 9 July to clear the way for a unity government. Ranil was chosen by Gotabaya as PM. As per Sri Lanka’ constitution, if Presidnet resigns, PM takes over as interim President. However, protesters are opposing Ranil taking over as interim President.

Sri Lanka: Opposition parties discussing how to elect next President – MP Anura Priyadharshana

Sri Lanka’s independent MP Anura Priyadharshana says that the opposition parties are meeting to get an idea on how to elect next president of country. “Many parties are discussing to create a consensus. It’s important to achieve it. Sajith Premadasa (Leader of the Opposition) was second in last elections so we spoke to him,” he adds.

Gotabaya won’t resign until he reaches the final destination: Sources

Sources said that Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is expected to quit today, won’t resign until he reaches the final destination. He is likely to reach the last destination at late evening.

Ranil Wickremesinghe resigned as PM on 9 July

After fresh round of protest broke out, Ranil Wickremesinghe announced his resignation as PM. “To ensure the continuation of the Government including the safety of all citizens I accept the best recommendation of the Party Leaders today, to make way for an All-Party Government. To facilitate this I will resign as Prime Minister,” he said.

India denies facilitating travel of Rajapaksa out of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka crisis: India today rejected the report that it facilitated the travel of Gotabaya Rajapaksa out of Sri Lanka. “It is reiterated that India will continue to support the people of Sri Lanka as they seek to realize their aspirations for prosperity and progress through democratic means and values , established democratic institutions and constitutional framework,” it said.