Colombo: Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled abroad as violence intensified across the country. Emergency has been declared in the country. Current Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe has been appointed as the Interim Chancellor.
Due to the severe economic crisis in Sri Lanka, people have been protesting since last March. They intensified their protests against President Gotabaya’s government and invaded the President’s House 4 days ago.
Gotabaya, who had left the presidential palace earlier, was apparently safe at the military headquarters near the Colombo International Airport.
Gotabaya announced that he would resign as president on the 13th after the people’s protest intensified. Accordingly, the opposition parties will speed up the steps to form the coalition government. The opposition parties informed that the election to elect the new president of the country will be held on 20th.
Gotabaya was expected to hand in his resignation letter yesterday as announced. However, he secretly fled to Maldives yesterday without submitting any resignation letter. He, along with his wife and two bodyguards, fled to Malé, the capital of the Maldives, on a Sri Lankan Air Force plane, a Sri Lankan official said. There are reports that he reached Male city early yesterday morning and is staying in a safe place there.
It has been revealed that the Maldivian military officials have taken him to a secret island there and Gotabhaya and his wife are staying in the mansion on that island. It is said that he has fled to the Maldives when the United States and India refused to help him escape from Sri Lanka. At the same time, the country refused to disclose whether Gotabaya is in the Maldives.
Meanwhile, tension in Sri Lanka continues. Protests and violence have intensified in some provinces of the country. Protesters also besieged the Prime Minister’s office in Colombo. As they turned violent, the police and soldiers fired tear gas shells to disperse the protest. Due to this, there has been excitement again in Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister’s Office said yesterday that a state of emergency has been declared across the country. In this regard, a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said, ‘Emergency has been declared to deal with the situation caused by the Prime Minister’s departure from the country and to bring the protesters under control.’
Speaker’s Announcement: Gotabaya has appointed Ranil Wickramasinghe as interim president while he is in refuge in the Maldives. Speaker of the House Yaba Abeywardhana said that Gotabaya told him this. Yaba Abeywardhana also said that he will receive the resignation letter from Gotabaya soon.
Ranil has said that he will step down from the post of interim president once the new president is elected on the 20th. Speaking to the people through Rupavahini TV, Ranil said, “We must end the fascist threat against democracy. Destruction of government property cannot be allowed. The President’s House, the President’s Office and the Prime Minister’s House should be restored. Some prominent political leaders seem to support the extremists. Army commanders and police chiefs have been ordered to take necessary steps to restore law and order. The emergency was declared to ensure the safety of the people,” he said.
Meanwhile, an all-party meeting was held in Colombo yesterday evening. It was decided that Ranil Wickramasinghe, who has been appointed as the Interim President, should step down and the Speaker of the Parliament should act as the Interim President.
TV Station Blockade: Earlier, the protestors stormed into the offices of the Sri Lankan state television Rupavahini. Due to this, the broadcast was interrupted for some time. The programs were resumed after the police arrived and removed the protesters.
India Denies: Some Sri Lankan media have reported that India helped President Gotabaya Rajapaksa escape to the Maldives. The Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka strongly condemned this.
In a tweet posted by the Indian Embassy in this regard, ‘The news that India helped President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to leave Sri Lanka is based on conjecture. India categorically denies this. It has been said that India will continue to support the progress of the Sri Lankan people and make their dreams come true.
Civil Aviation Minister Jyothir Aditya Scindia announced that due to the declaration of an emergency in Sri Lanka, flights bound for Sri Lanka have been given permission to use Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi airports in Kerala.
Protest in Maldives: In this case, a protest was held in front of the President’s office yesterday to evacuate Gothapaya who has taken refuge in the Maldives. This protest took place against the granting of shelter to Gothapaya. In particular, Maldivian people and emigrants from Sri Lanka took part in the protest near the residence of the Maldivian President Ibrahim.