Category: Featured Headlines

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for dialogue to ensure a smooth transition of government in Sri Lanka and find sustainable solutions to the economic crisis.
“I stand in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka & call for dialogue to ensure a smooth transition of government & to find sustainable solutions to the economic crisis,” Guterres tweeted.
“I condemn all acts of violence and call for those responsible to be held accountable,” he added.
On Monday, the Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq said that the UN Secretary was closely following the developments in Sri Lanka, and stands in solidarity with the country.
Notably, Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Saturday agreed to step down from his post. He said that he will step down from the presidency on July 13 amid economic and political instability. On Monday, Sri Lanka’s speaker of parliament said political party leaders have decided to elect a new president on July 20 through a vote in parliament.
In a statement, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that following a meeting with all political party leaders, it was decided to convene parliament sessions on July 15 and inform the parliament that there was a vacancy for the presidency.
Nominations for the presidency will be called for on July 19 and a vote will be taken on July 20 to elect a new president, the speaker said. Party leaders also decided to form an all-party government under the new president and take steps to continue the supply of essential services.
This comes after protests by thousands rocked Colombo on Saturday as crowds tore through the barricades surrounding Rajapaksa’s residence and climbed over the fence and took control of the area.
Dramatic visuals from outside Rajapakse’s residence showed a sea of demonstrators storming into the compound, tearing down security cordons placed by police, taking a dip in the swimming pool and romping through his kitchen and home.
Hours after the protestors stormed his official residence, Rajapaksa agreed to step down from his post. Sri Lanka is suffering its worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948, which comes on the heels of successive waves of COVID-19, threatening to undo years of development progress and severely undermining the country’s ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Source: ANI

Sri Lankan Party Leaders have decided to convene parliament on the 15th of July, two days after the President steps down.

The Party Leaders including Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Dinesh Gunawardena, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Kumar Welgama, Dilan Perera Tiran Alles, Dullas Alahapperuma, Mano Ganesan, Lakshaman Kiriella, Rishad Bathiudeen, Udaya Gammanpila, and several other MPs had attended the crucial meeting on Monday (11) afternoon.

MP Rauff Hakeem speaking to reporters said the nominations for the post of President will be taken up on the 19th of July, and then on the 20th of July, an election will be held.

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader Rauff Hakeem speaking to reporters said Ranil Wickremesinghe made another attempt at the meeting to seek the approval of party leaders to make fuel purchases.

He said the party leaders opposed the decision to move such a proposal, adding that it was a decision to be made by the Cabinet of Ministers and NOT the Party Leaders.

Rauf Hakeem said he will NOT accept Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister, adding that Wickremesinghe is attempting to pass the blame on to the Party Leaders by moving a proposal at the meeting to make fuel purchases in the absence of any valid document.

“Words were exchanged at the meeting,” said Rauff Hakeem adding that the objective is to form an all-party government, with a large number of ruling party MPs.

He questioned by the President is not directing his decision to step down in writing to the speaker, rather than making phone calls.

Rauff Hakeem said both the President and the Prime Minister must submit their resignations in writing.

Source: News 1st

The European Union (EU) has called for a democratic and orderly transition in Sri Lanka.

The EU said that it is closely following developments in Sri Lanka and hopes the country returns back to normal.

“We call on all parties to cooperate and focus on a peaceful, democratic and orderly transition,” the EU said.

The EU emphasized that it is the responsibility of all party leaders to pave way to a solution to the current crisis and return back to normalcy.

The EU said it is assessing the available options to further step up its support to Sri Lanka’s population.

Source: Colombo Gazette

The entire Cabinet has decided to resign after an agreement is reached on an All-Party Government.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held a discussion with the Cabinet Ministers this morning (11) at the Prime Minister’s Office.

All the Ministers who participated in the discussion were of the opinion that as soon as there is an agreement to form an All-Party Government, they are ready to hand over their responsibilities to that Government.

A number of Ministers have already submitted their resignation letters.

Source: Colombo Gazette

Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has officially informed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that he will resign as previously announced, the prime minister’s office said.

Previously, Speaker of Parliament Mahina Yapa Abeywardena said that President Rajapaksa had informed him that he would be stepping down on Wednesday July 13.

Saturday July 09 saw protestors storm Rajapaksa’s official residence demanding his resignation. The Speaker said in a statement that evening that he had informed Rajapaksa of a decision reached at a party leaders’ meeting that the president and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe must step down.

The president had expressed his agreement with this decision, he said.

On Sunday July 10, his office released a statement that said he had ordered officials to expedite cooking gas distribution after the arrival of a gas shipment Monday July 11 afternoon.

Source: EconomyNext