Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency as angry protesters took over the streets of Colombo once again on Wednesday after news reports confirmed fomer president Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting president after fleeing to Maldives in a military aircraft.
The emergency was declared by Ranil Wickremesinghe as he took over the role of acting president. A curfew was imposed on Wednesday with immediate effect in Sri Lanka’s western province immediately after Ranil took control. The emergency is is in effect throughout the island.
Sri Lankan news agency LankaExpress also revealed that Ranil Wickremesinghe ordered forces to arrest people acting in a riotous manner and to stop vehicles on which they are traveling.
Opposition leader Sajitha Premadasa and other opposition leaders said the implementation of the curfew was unlawful. Premadasa in a tweet said that the prime minister becomes acting President only if the President appoints him or if the office of the President is vacant or if the chief justice in consultation with the parliament speaker forms the view that the president is unable to act.
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.— Sajith Premadasa (@sajithpremadasa) July 13, 2022
He said that these preconditions needed to be met before the prime minister can declare an emergency, referring to Wickremesinghe’s orders of a nationwide emergency and curfew in the western province.
The Sri Lankan army moved troops to contain protests. Demonstrations are being held outside the office of the prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo’s Flower Road.
#WATCH | Sri Lanka: Protests erupt outside PM's residence amid heavy security deployment in Colombo as protestors raise slogans#SriLankaCrisis pic.twitter.com/5rRPjXW0qU— ANI (@ANI) July 13, 2022
The protesters are demanding that both of them leave as they do not want Ranil to become president. Security personnel lobbed tear gas shells at them to quell the protests.
Ranil was appointed prime minister by Gotabaya Rajapaksa earlier this year after his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa stepped down due to demands from protesters who blame the Rajapaksa clan for leading them into a financial crisis that will take years to mitigate.
#WATCH | Sri Lanka: Protest breaks out again in Colombo as the crisis in the country deepens after Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country, earlier todayAs per Sri Lanka's Speaker of Parliament, Rajapaksa is yet to give his resignation pic.twitter.com/drHWzaDyVv
— ANI (@ANI) July 13, 2022
The protesters claim that as per the Sri Lankan constitution, if the president quits then the prime minister is elevated to the role of acting president. However, the prospect of Wickremesinghe, a close confidant of the Rajapaksas being elevated to the role has left Sri Lankans angered.
Four protesters sustained injuries as tear gas shells in a clash at the GotaGoGama protest site at Galle Face Green. They have been hospitalized with cut injuries.
Maldives’ president Solih and former president Nasheed both were lambasted by Sri Lankan and Maldivians on Twitter for allowing the Rajapaksas to seek refuge in Male.
The Sri Lankan air force also released a statement that they facilitated the departure of the Rajapaksas’ as per the rules stated in the Sri Lankan constitution. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, remained immune from arrests and was the commander-in-chief of the army when he left Sri Lanka aboard the AN-32 military flight for Male.
Several Maldivians and Sri Lankan expats took to Twitter demanding that the Rajapaksas be sent back to Sri Lanka to answer to the people.
Meanwhile, the United States embassy in Sri Lanka said it suspended consular services on Wednesday and Thursday.
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