Colombo: Sri Lanka declared a country of emergency nowadays as big protests engulfed Colombo after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flew to the Maldives following months of protests in opposition to an financial crisis.
Here are the pinnacle 10 updates in this large story
- Teargas shells had been fired as heaps of human beings mobbed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s office, took over his house and driven in opposition to the gates of the Lankan parliament.
- In a televised statement, the Prime Minister advised the navy and police to repair order” and arrest rioters. An indefinite curfew has been imposed throughout the Western Province, along with Colombo, to include the escalating protests.
- Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena stated that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will ship his resignation later withinside the day as promised. He additionally stated that Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has been appointed because the performing President of the country.
- Sri Lanka’s country-run TV network, Rupavahini Corporation, in short suspended its telecast after protesters entered the TV station. The channel resumed the published later.
- President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had promised on the weekend to renounce on Wednesday and clean the manner for a “non violent transition of power” after fleeing his legit house in Colombo simply earlier than protesters broke into it.
- As President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa enjoys immunity from arrest, and he reportedly desired to move overseas earlier than stepping right all the way down to keep away from the opportunity of being detained. He, his spouse and bodyguards had been the 4 passengers on board a navy plane that took off from Lanka’s important worldwide airport, stated information employer AFP quoting sources.
- Police used tear fueloline and water cannons to save you crowds from overrunning the Prime Minister’s office. Mr Wickremesinghe has already stated he’s going to step down as soon as an all-celebration authorities is prepared to take over. Sri Lanka’s political events have stepped up efforts to shape an all-celebration authorities and decide on a brand new President on July 20.
- Defence officers of the island state have advised NDTV that Mr Rajapaksa asked a aircraft ultimate night time and insisted they had been “obligated” to offer him with one. As President, Mr Rajapaksa remains the ideal commander of the defence forces.
- On their arrival withinside the Maldives, President Rajapaksa, his spouse and bodyguards had been pushed to an undisclosed region beneathneath police escort, an airport legit in Male stated. Reports declare the President’s more youthful brother and previous finance minister Basil Rajapaksa has additionally left the country.
- The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka nowadays disregarded reviews claiming that India had helped President Rajapaksa and his brother Basil flee.
