Author: Branita

Sri Lankan citizens in their thousands flocked to Fort in Colombo yesterday (9) to mark yet another milestone in the country’s history as they braved many obstacles – from transport issues to barriers and tear gas attacks – to take charge of the President’s House and the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

This comes following months of protests which started on 31 March this year when citizens surrounded President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence in Mirihana.

The breach of the President’s House by protesters was a culmination of the ‘Gota Go Home’ protests that also led to former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s resignation on 9 May, former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s resignation on 9 June, until yesterday, when people’s power emerged supreme in the country. It is understood that the President was not at his residence at the time the protesters breached the gates.

The people’s protest commenced in full force at around 9 a.m. yesterday and by mid-day, thousands of protesters had managed to break down several barricades around the President’s House and make their way to the gates of the mansion for the final confrontation with the security forces.

By around 12.50 p.m. the protesters had breached the defences and made their way into the President’s House. Almost at the same time, another group of protesters entered the Presidential Secretariat, symbolising the people’s power over the Executive.

Soon after the fall of the President’s House and the Presidential Secretariat, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe called for a party leaders’ meeting at 4 p.m., which was to be held online due to security concerns. The Premier also asked Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to discuss with the party leaders and convene an urgent session of Parliament this week.

However, the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the National People’s Power (NPP) announced that the parties would not participate in the meeting called by the Prime Minister. The SJB stated that it would attend the meeting convened by the Speaker.

Ultimately, all party leaders participated in the meeting convened by the Speaker at the Speaker’s house. Several party leaders participated in the meeting through Zoom.

Four key decisions were reached at the party leaders’ meeting. They were: for President Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe to resign immediately; the Speaker to act as president for a maximum of 30 days; Parliament to elect a parliamentarian as interim president for the remainder of the term; and appoint an all-party interim government.

After the party leaders’ meeting, Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe stated that a majority of the party leaders had proposed that the President and Prime Minister both resign and allow the Speaker to temporarily serve as president. These sentiments were shared by opposition MPs Rauff Hakeem, M.A. Sumanthiran PC, and ruling party MP Dullas Alahapperuma.

However, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe announced afterwards that he was prepared to resign, making way for an all-party government to ensure the safety of all citizens. Accordingly, PM Wickremesinghe is to step down once the interim government is prepared to take over the reins.

“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,” Wickremesinghe said in a Twitter statement.

The Prime Minister had earlier reported that President Rajapaksa was ready to step down if the party leaders called for his (the President’s) resignation.

Speaker Abeywardena last evening officially informed President Rajapaksa in writing of the decision reached at the party leaders’ meeting calling for his immediate resignation.

The Speaker’s letter noted the decisions reached at the party leaders’ meeting as follows: “1. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to resign immediately; 2. Parliament to be convened in seven days to appoint an acting president; 3. Appoint an interim all-party government under a new Prime Minister commanding majority in Parliament; and 4. Call for elections within a short period of time and appoint a new government.”

The letter also noted several alternative proposals presented by the Prime Minister: “The President to resign and the Prime Minister to be appointed as acting President, appoint an interim government under a new Prime Minister afterwards, or for the President and Prime Minister to both resign and appoint an acting President from Parliament while appointing an interim government.”

Meanwhile, ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Dr. Bandula Gunawardena announced yesterday that he would resign from his portfolio and SLPP membership while continuing to function as an independent MP.

Last evening saw crowds from the Fort protest sites making their way to Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’s private residence in Colombo 3 and the Prime Minister’s Office in Colombo 7 demanding his resignation. The protests against Wickremesinghe intensified following an attack by several Special Task Force (STF) personnel on a group of journalists representing a private electronic media institution.

The Prime Minister however expressed his grave regret over the assault on journalists who were covering protests and noted the importance of freedom of media to democracy.

While the protests continue, footage of luggage being hurriedly loaded into SLNS Gajabahu, a navy offshore patrol vessel, was widely circulated on social media yesterday, indicating that a VVIP was making a hasty exit.

Sri Lanka Navy Spokesperson Captain Indika De Silva denied the allegations, saying the vessel was on a routine deployment and that the President was not on board.

However, yesterday’s protest campaign resulted in 49 persons being hospitalised for treatment. A number of Police officers and members of the armed forces were also reported to have suffered injuries.

The protest planned for yesterday, the latest in a series, began to gather steam earlier in the week as a wide cross-section of the population pledged their support for it.

The journey to Colombo for the final people’s power protest started for many on Friday (8), cycling and marching in groups. Political parties, student and trade unions, and community groups rallied around the call from the ‘Aragalaya’ to come join them and oust the President and the Government. Some were able to convince train drivers and station masters to reactivate suspended train services to travel to Colombo from Kandy and Galle.

Attempts by the Police to obtain court orders against protesters – mainly near the President’s House and Office in Fort – proved futile as the Magistrate turned down their request several times.

However, the Police Department in a last-ditch effort declared that ‘Police curfew’ would be declared from Friday evening until further notice for several parts of the Western Province. The Police curfew triggered Sri Lanka Railways to suspend a number of scheduled train journeys to Colombo over the weekend.

However, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), legal experts, and Opposition politicians objected to the curfew, pointing out that the move by the Police was illegal and was a blatant violation of the fundamental rights of Sri Lankan citizens.

RW’s house set on fire

The residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo 3 was set on fire last night (9) by a group of protesters.

“Protesters have broken into the private residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and have set it on fire,” the Premier’s Media Unit stated yesterday.

Wickremesinghe was not at the residence when the protesters stormed in.

Police Media Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that the Police had been unable to control the protesters and that they had broken into the Prime Minister’s residence.

Protesters gathered outside the Prime Minister’s residence following the assault on several journalists attached to a private electronic media station by a group of Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel near the residence.

Source: The Morning

The political party leaders have decided to request both President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to resign and Speaker of Parliament to take over as acting President for a short period of time pursuant to the Constitution, MP Rauff Hakeem says.

The urgent meeting of political party leaders, chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, commenced at the Speaker’s Residence at around 4.00 p.m. this evening.

It came after mass anti-government protests gained momentum today and people calling for President Rajapaksa’s resignation occupied the President’s House in Colombo Fort earlier today. The protesters in Colombo were tear-gassed as the demonstrations advanced through police barricades.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, the parliamentarian said PM Wickremesinghe, however, has not agreed to vacate his position.

Speaker of Parliament meanwhile decided to write to both President and the Prime Minister to resign as per the overwhelming request, MP Hakeem added.

According to the tweet, several political party leaders including PM Wickremesinghe, MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake and MP M.A. Sumanthiran joined the meeting virtually.

Source: Adaderana

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has informed that he would step down from the presidency on July 13 (Wednesday), Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena says.

The announcement came hours after people, calling for the resignation of the President and his government, stormed into the President’s House in Colombo Fort earlier today.

They had pushed through barricades at entry roads to the President’s House to reach the premises and occupied the premises.

The Speaker, in a video statement released a short while ago, stated that the President has agreed to implement the decisions taken by the political party leaders this evening. At the meeting, chaired by the Speaker, the party leaders came to the consensus that the President and the Prime Minister must resign immediately.

The President has told the Speaker that he would vacate his position on July 13 to allow a peaceful handover of power.

Speaker Abeywardena appealed to the members of the public to remain peaceful and advised public servants to ensure the smooth functioning of day-to-day life.

Meanwhile, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced that he would resign from his position after an all-party government is established.

Sri Lanka is mired in a deep political and economic crisis and on Saturday (July 9), the country’s president was forced to flee his residence not long before it was stormed by a huge crowd of protesters.

The island nation of 22 million people has suffered months of lengthy blackouts, acute food and fuel shortages and galloping inflation in its most painful downturn on record.

Months of protests have demanded the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, whose government has been blamed for chronic mismanagement of the country’s finances.

The South Asian country emerged from a devastating civil war in 2009, only to be rocked by Islamist bombings in 2019, before being hit hard the following year by the Covid-19 pandemic which left the island bereft of tourists.

Here is a look back at how the crisis has unfolded.

April 1, 2022: State of emergency
Mr Rajapaksa declares a temporary state of emergency, giving security forces sweeping powers to arrest and detain suspects, after a spate of protests.

April 3: Cabinet resigns
Almost all of Sri Lanka’s Cabinet resigns at a late-night meeting, leaving Mr Rajapaksa and his brother Mahinda – the prime minister – isolated.

The governor of the central bank, having resisted calls to seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), announces his resignation a day later.

April 5: President loses majority
President Rajapaksa’s problems deepen as finance minister Ali Sabry resigns just a day after he was appointed.

The embattled leader loses his parliamentary majority as former allies urge him to quit. He lifts the state of emergency.

April 10: Medicine shortages
Sri Lanka’s doctors say they are nearly out of life-saving medicines, warning that the crisis could end up killing more than the coronavirus pandemic.

April 19: First casualty
Police kill a protester, the first casualty of several weeks of anti-government protests.

The next day the IMF says it has asked Sri Lanka to restructure its colossal external debt before a rescue package can be agreed.

May 9: Day of violence

Demonstrators and government supporters clash outside the residence of Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, in Colombo on May 9,

Nine people are killed and hundreds more injured in the reprisal attacks that follow, with crowds targeting those responsible for the violence and setting fire to the homes of lawmakers.

Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns as prime minister, and has to be rescued by troops after thousands of protesters storm his residence in Colombo.

He is replaced by Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe, a political veteran who had already served several terms as premier.

May 10: Shoot-to-kill orders
The defence ministry orders troops to shoot on sight anyone involved in looting or “causing harm to life”.

But protesters defy a fresh government curfew, which is rolled back at the end of the week.

The top police officer in Colombo is assaulted and his vehicle set ablaze.

June 10: ‘Humanitarian emergency’
The United Nations warns that Sri Lanka is facing a dire humanitarian crisis, with millions already in need of aid.

More than three-quarters of the population had reduced their food intake due to the country’s severe food shortages, the UN says.

June 27: Fuel sales suspended

People stand outside a closed fuel station that ran out of gasoline in Colombo on June 27, 2022. PHOTO: AFP
The government says Sri Lanka is nearly out of fuel and halts all petrol sales except for essential services.

July 1: New inflation record
The government publishes data showing inflation has hit a record high for the ninth consecutive month, a day after the IMF asks Sri Lanka to rein in high prices and galloping inflation.

July 9: President’s home stormed

President Rajapaksa flees his official residence in Colombo with the assistance of troops, shortly before demonstrators storm the compound, and he is taken to an undisclosed location.

Footage from inside the residence shows jubilant protesters jumping in the pool and exploring its stately bedrooms.

Source: The Straits Times

Ahead of what is expected to be a large demonstration in Colombo on Saturday, 9 July, we urge Sri Lankan authorities to show restraint in the policing of assemblies and ensure every necessary effort to prevent violence.

At the same time, we appeal to the organisers of the protests and their supporters to engage in peaceful means of protest and not to impede essential medical or humanitarian services.

We also call on the authorities to give clear instructions to the security forces that human rights defenders and journalists have a right to monitor and report on the demonstrations and therefore should be protected in the exercise of these functions and not obstructed in any way.

The worsening economic situation has led to increasing tensions in the last weeks. Reports have been received of several confrontations between individuals and members of the police force and the armed forces at fuel stations where thousands of desperate members of the public have queued for hours and sometimes days.

Police have used tear gas and water cannon at times in an unnecessary and disproportionate manner. On occasions, armed forces have also fired live ammunition. All Sri Lankans have the right of freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and the right to participate in public affairs, which are particularly important in critical phases of the nation’s life. Under applicable international law, gatherings can only be dispersed in exceptional cases, with use of force a last resort where absolutely necessary and proportionate.

While we recognise the challenges that the police and armed forces face – including instances of attack on themselves – the Government needs to give strict instructions to the police and armed forces to desist from violence in dealing with the public and to act with utmost restraint.

As a general rule, the military should not be used to police assemblies. Where, in exceptional circumstances, members of the military carry out law enforcement functions they are bound by international norms and standards and must remain fully subordinate to civilian authorities and accountable under civilian law.

The people of Sri Lanka are already suffering enormously and live in continuing uncertainty of how they can meet their basic needs including access to the right to food, health and education. They have a right to peacefully protest to demand a better life and an end to economic and social hardship.

We also repeat the High Commissioner’s call for open and genuine dialogue to address the root causes of the crisis and grievances of the population.

Source: United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner

A group of demonstrators from Gota Go Gama (GGG) in Galle Face had talks with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC).

The SLMC said that the meeting took place at the SLMC party headquarters.

SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem and party secretary Nizam Kariappar, PC, attended the meeting.

The Galle Face protesters had explained the focus of the mass protest to be staged against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa tomorrow (Saturday).

Similar talks had taken place between other opposition party representatives and the GGG protesters earlier.

Source: Colombo Gazette