The Sri Lankan crisis: With the price of soaring food, the lack of fuel and other essence, the locals have been pushed to the edge of the abyss because the state is related to one of the worst crises in decades.
Tens of thousands of protesters fell on the streets of Sri Lanka on Saturday in one of the largest demonstrations, South Asian countries had seen in the midst of the current economic crisis. With food prices that jump, lack of fuel and other essence, local residents have been pushed to the edge of the abyss because the country deals with one of the worst crises in decades. Pressure has increased to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Prime Minister, resigned. “Go home Rajawaksas” and “We need responsible leadership,” read placards in the middle of a strong singing, the AP news agency reported. The main opposition party Sri Lanka, Samagi Jana Balwegaya (SJB), has warned the government with a motion of disbelief if it failed to deal with the crisis.
Here are ten updates about the Sri Lankan crisis:
1. Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe spoke with the news agency Ani on Sunday, thanked India for his help. “I think India has helped be maximized. We have to see, and they still help in a non-financial way. So, we have to thank them.” He also clarified that “no heavy Chinese investment” has been done under current dispensation. “They are looking for investments but investments have not entered … I think discussions are highlighting scheduling loan payments. They have talked to the Chinese government, only that I know.”
2. Former PM also blamed Rajpaksas because of mismanagement. “The government does not maintain the economy. They were told several times to go to the IMF. They decided not to find advice from the central bank and treasury. People pay prices now. It is understandable that they want it to change,” he told Ani.
3. The IMF on Saturday said it was “very caring” about the Sri Lankan crisis, the Reuters news agency reported. “We are committed to helping Sri Lanka consistent with our policies, and will be involved in discussions about possible programs with senior policy makers in a few days and weeks. We monitor the political and economic development very close,” Head of the IMF mission for Sri Lanka, Masahiro Nozaki, told Reuters.
4. Sri Lankan Parliament is set to regroup on April 19 and sessions will be held until April 22, according to a report. “Parliament is scheduled to swear on April 19 at 10:00 a.m. and start at 11:00 a.m. until 16:30,” the official statement was quoted by Ani.
5. “We have decided to bring the confidence movement against President Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa when he failed to overcome the country in connection with economic policy. We have held a meeting with all opposition leaders and will soon take a final decision,” Sri Lanka opposition leader, Sajith Premadasa, tell Ani.
6. The 22 million state has seen weeks of blackouts and lack of great essence. Some business associations were also reported to be present on Saturday’s protests.
7. Nandalal Weerasinghe, the newly appointed central bank governor, said a series of monetary policy errors have caused the current crisis without the dollar to finance many imports. “We are now in damage control mode,” AFP said quoted it.
8. The 26th Cabinet Minister Mahinda Rajpaksa has stopped about a week ago. New Finance Minister Ali Sabry told parliament that IMF’s support with 3 billion USD was expected. “We hope to get around a billion dollars a year in the next three years there are three billion support,” he told parliament.
9. Sri Lanka also faces deficiency of foreign exchange, which has, by chance, affects its capacity to import food and fuel, which leads to power outages in this country.
10. President Rajapaksa previously proposed the creation of the unity government after the resignation of Masse, but the main opposition party rejected the idea. Parliament failed to reach consensus on how to deal with the crisis after nearly 40 parliamentarians who regulate the coalition said they would no longer choose according to coalition instructions, AP reported.
