Sri Lanka: President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has declared a state of emergency as protests against the government erupt in Sri Lanka.
President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency on Friday (Apr. 2) amid popular protests in Sri Lanka against rising prices, power cuts and fuel shortages. The 11 coalition parties that backed President Gotabhaya Rajapakse also issued a statement calling for the withdrawal of their support and the dissolution of the regime and the formation of a caretaker government. Following this request, a state of emergency has been declared.
Not only in the capital Colombo, but in various parts of the country due to the economic crisis, continuous power cuts and fuel shortages. People’s struggle Has exploded. Condemning the extraordinary situation prevailing in Sri Lanka, the people engaged in a huge struggle by besieging the house of President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa the day before yesterday. Those involved in the struggle were subsequently arrested.
Sri Lanka, which has sought loans from India, China and the International Monetary Fund, declared a state of economic emergency last year. Even after that, the situation there has not changed. It is in this context that a state of emergency has been declared in Sri Lanka.
Earlier, after corona epidemic Sri Lanka Is facing large-scale economic impacts. Foreign exchange inflows to Sri Lanka have been severely affected. Sri Lanka’s currency has largely devalued.
Thus there is a severe fuel shortage. Due to the lack of money to buy coal, power cuts are in effect in Sri Lanka for seven and a half hours every day. Petrol and diesel prices have risen to an all-time high.
90% of restaurants in the country are closed due to shortage of gas cylinders in Sri Lanka. Only restaurants that cook by wood stove operate. Commodity prices have skyrocketed. The price of snacks has gone up in bakeries and confectionery.
A kilo of cumin 1899, great cumin Rs. Sold for 1500 rupees. Large onions sell for Rs.400, an egg for Rs.36 and chicken for Rs.1000. A kilo of milk powder sells for Rs. The sale of milk and tea in shops has been stopped as a cup of tea has to be sold for 100 rupees.
Buy crude oil due to lack of foreign exchange Sri Lanka Is suffering. As a result, there is a huge shortage of diesel, petrol and cooking gas. As a result, the price of a gas cylinder has been increased to Rs 5,000. The price of diesel and petrol has been increased drastically and it is not available. There is a dilemma of waiting in long queues to get petrol and diesel for vehicles.
To import 37,500 metric tons of diesel in an environment where crude oil is unlikely to be refined Sri Lanka The government took action. Diesel loaded ship from Middle Eastern countries Sri Lanka Has come up. But in the context of not being able to pay for diesel Sri Lanka Is.
As a result, boards at petrol stations have been left open for the past few days as there is no sale of diesel. The government has announced that people will not have to wait at diesel outlets. Diesel vehicles are all paralyzed. Only petrol vehicles stand in line for several hours and receive a certain amount of diesel. Diesel reserves in Sri Lanka are completely depleted Sri Lanka The government has said.
This is likely to result in a diesel-free environment even at the expense of government utility. Whereas to arrange and pay the amount due for diesel Sri Lanka The government is taking action. Diesel is likely to be available if that happens.
Meanwhile, the President is responsible for the economic crisis in Sri Lanka Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Opposition groups called for a boycott of the Presidential Palace on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck. People’s struggle The army was concentrated throughout the city of Colombo to prevent a recurrence.