News

Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has decided to implement an urgent relief program to provide fuel, gas and essential food items to the public who are struggling due to the pressures of the ongoing economic crisis.

The decision was reached following discussions held with Ministers and Members of Parliament earlier today (16).

In addition, it has been decided to use additional money for this purpose from the relief budget that will be presented in August.

The Acting President advised to expedite the implementation of the food security program, while special attention was also paid to providing fuel and fertilizers regularly and promptly.

During the discussion, plans were also made to prepare the necessary environment for businessmen to run their business without any inconveniences.

Meanwhile, Acting President Wickremesinghe said that the plan handed over by the peaceful protesters has been recognized as a good plan and added that he will inform the activists about the measures being taken to fight corruption.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s letter of resignation has been received by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the Speaker’s Media Division confirmed.

Accordingly, Rajapaksa had reportedly sent his resignation letter to the Speaker via e-mail, of which the legality is now being verified, the Media Division further said.

Abeywardena is due to make an official statement in this regard tomorrow (15).

Former President and the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Maithripala Sirisena says that the current situation of multiple candidates being proposed as Presidential Candidates could cause for a rift within the Parliament.

Speaking to News 1st, the former President stated that no matter whoever may win out of the three candidates proposed, it would create a divide, and the best possible alternative is for the Party Leaders to discuss and propose a single candidate for the Presidential election.

He further stated that this divide within the Parliament would end up being an issue for any Government that is yet to come.

However, the former President said that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party has not yet taken a decision in this regard, and will come into a consensus after the nominations are handed over.

The former President also added that although there were requests, he will not be contesting for Presidency, and will support an existing candidate.

A curfew has been declared within the Colombo district from 12:00 noon today (14) till 05:00 am tomorrow (15).

The curfew was imposed by Acting President and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe by way of an Extraordinary Gazette.

Accordingly, only those with written permission granted by the Secretary, Ministry of Defence Secretary, Ministry of Public Security, the Inspector General of Police or any officer authorised by them will be permitted to travel during the hours in which the curfew has been imposed.

Parliamentarian Dullas Alahapperuma has expressed his intentions to contest for the vacant post of President of Sri Lanka.

In a statement, the MP said the resignation of Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was confirmed in today’s meeting of the party leaders in the Parliament and it is a known fact that the new President should be elected in a constitutional vote in the Parliament to complete his next term.

“The Sri Lankan people are going through a period of transition, experiencing many political, economic and social activities that have never been seen before in history,” he said.

“I strongly believe that the people of this country should not suffer any more hardship, hardship or despair under such a situation,” the MP added.

Dullas Alahapperuma said he expects the unwavering support of the parliamentarians with the sincere aim of building a peaceful and developed Sri Lanka.

(Reuters); Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was expected to head to Singapore after fleeing to the Maldives in the early hours of Wednesday, a government source in Sri Lanka told Reuters, as protests continued in Colombo.

The source, who declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the subject, said Rajapaksa could send his resignation to the speaker of Sri Lankan parliament after landing in Singapore.

An aide to Rajapaksa and the Singapore government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Ministry of Education has decided to keep all government and government-approved private schools closed from the 18th to 20th of July 2022.

The decision was taken at the virtual discussion held this morning (July 15) at the Ministry of Education, with the participation of the Education Secretary, Additional Secretaries, Director of Education (National schools), Provincial Secretaries of Education and Provincial Directors of Education.

In arriving at this decision, they have taken into account the difficulties in securing transport facilities due to the prevailing fuel crisis.

Accordingly, the schools will be reopened for in-person lessons on the 21st of July.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has ordered the Sri Lanka Police to impose a curfew within the Western Province within immediate effect.

Further, he also ordered that an emergency law be imposed islandwide, the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed.

Despite such orders having been given though, no such curfew has been enforced yet.

Earlier today (13), Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters near the Prime Minister’s Office in Colombo.

The protesters had marched from the Galle Face protest site towards the Prime Minister’s Office on Flower Road and staged a protest outside the premises.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the Acting President a short while ago (15).

Wickremesinghe was sworn in by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya.

The Premier was appointed as the Acting President on 13 July by Gotabaya Rajapaksa during his absence from the country, by virtue of Article 37(1) of the Constitution.

Police Special Task Force (STF) SSP Romesh. A. Liyanage has been suspended over the recent attack on journalists near the Prime Minister’s private residence on Saturday (09).

Accordingly, SSP Liyanage was suspended with immediate effect for failing to prevent the brutal attack on a group of journalists who were covering the protests.

During Saturday’s protests, four journalists were attacked by officers belonging to the Sri Lanka Police and the Police STF opposite Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private residence in Colombo, moments before his residence was set abalze.

The injured media personnel were rushed to the hospital for immediate treatment.

A special Party Leaders’ meeting is due to be held at 10:00 am today (15), under the patronage of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

The meeting is expected to focus on the ongoing crisis, while a consensus pertaining to nominations for the post of Prime Minister is also expected to be reached.

Meanwhile, Parliament will convene tomorrow (16), so as to commence the procedure required to appoint a new President.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it is hoping for a resolution to Sri Lanka’s political turmoil that will allow a resumption of talks for a bailout package after a violent day of protests.

“We hope for a resolution of the current situation that will allow for resumption of our dialogue on an IMF-supported program”, the IMF said in a statement.

Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will resign on Wednesday (13) after thousands of protesters stormed his official residence and secretariat on Saturday, an official said.

Protesters also set fire to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private residence.