Sri Lanka News: Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa Emails Resignation Letter to Speaker
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Sri Lanka Crisis Live Updates
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Sri Lanka Economic Crisis Live News Updates: Embattled President President Rajapaksa on Thursday, 14 July, emailed his resignation to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena after reaching Singapore, according to NewsWire.
Earlier on Thursday, the Singapore Foreign Ministry said that neither "had he asked for asylum, nor had he been granted asylum" in the country.
Gotabaya travelled to Singapore on a Saudi Airlines flight from the Maldives. Although earlier reports said that he would fly to Saudi Arabia from there, news agency ANI reported that he would not travel further.
Meanwhile, a curfew has been imposed in Colombo till 5 am on Friday, 15 July.
Protesters vacate the official residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Thursday, 14 July.
Sri Lankan Army officers stand guard after protesters vacate the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's official residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Thursday, 14 July.
A police officer and an Air Force soldier stand guard inside Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office as protesters prepare to vacate it in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, 14 July.
Army soldiers rest on the sidewalk of a barricaded road that leads to the parliament in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Thursday, 14 July.
Sri Lankan protesters storm the compound of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe 's office on Wednesday, 13 July, demanding he resign after president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country amid economic crisis in Colombo.
Wickremesinghe has informed Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to nominate a PM who is "acceptable" to both the government and the Opposition
He was asked to step down in an emergency all-party meeting on Wednesday
The leaders at the meeting demanded that the speaker take over as acting president instead
Wickremesinghe was appointed as the acting president on Wednesday in Rajapaksa's absence
An indefinite nationwide emergency was imposed in Sri Lanka on Wednesday
Massive protests had erupted across Colombo on Wednesday, with demonstrators taking over the prime minister's office
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US Asks for Peaceful Transfer of Power
The US ambassador in Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, took cognisance of the unrest and called for a peaceful transfer of power within the country's constitutional framework.
"We condemn all violence and call for the rule of law to be upheld," she said in a tweet, stressing that "a peaceful transfer of power within Sri Lanka's democratic and constitutional framework is essential so the people's demands for accountability, transparency, democratic governance and a better future can be realized," she wrote.
'Urge Leaders to Embrace the Spirit of Compromise': UN Secy General
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls for a "peaceful and democratic transition" of power.
President Rajapaksa Awaiting Plane to Singapore: Reports
President Rajapaksa, who was suppposed to hand in his resignation yesterday, is currently in Maldives, awaiting to board to jet to Singapore, reports Daily Mirror.
Central Bank Issues Warnings on Crytpo Trade
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has published a warning against investments in virtual currencies, essentially cryptocurrencies, saying that it risks exposure to significant financial, operational, legal, and security-related uncertainties.
President Rajapaksa Yet To Hand in His Resignation
The Sri Lankan speaker's office has confirmed that the Parliament is yet to receive the letter of resignation from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Over 80 Hospitalised After Colombo Protests, Police Lodges Complaint
At least 84 people were hospitalised when protesters clashed with the security forces at the prime minister's office and at the main access junction to Parliament, PTI reported.
Police spokesperson Nihal Thalduwa said protesters had grabbed a T56 firearm and 60 bullets from a Sri Lankan army soldier. He added that a police complaint has been lodged.
Private Jet To Transport Rajapaksa, Arrives in Maldives
A private jet arrived in Maldives to transport President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to Singapore, reports Daily Mirror.
Military Guarding PM's Chair in Colombo
Sri Lankan military personnel are guarding the prime minister's chair in his office.
Protesters Say They Will Leave Official Buildings
Sri Lankan protesters say they will leave government buildings, reports AP.
Curfew Imposed in Colombo
A curfew has been imposed in the Colombo district from 12 noon today, till 5 am on Friday, the Government Information Department announced.
'Don't Fall Ill,' Say Doctors as Medical Supplies, Drugs Fall Short
Doctors in the crisis-ridden nation are advising people to not fall ill, as the country witnesses a paucity of health supplies and drugs.
“We are being told (by the hospital) that they don’t know when they will have this tablet again," Ishara Thilini, sister of a Hasini, who is directed to take an immune suppressant for her kidney, told AP.
The family is now depending on donors, as the Tacrolimus tablets that Hasini received for free until a few weeks ago, cost over $200 a month.
President Rajapaksa En Route to Singapore
Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled Maldives, and boarded a Saudia Airlines flight to Singapore along with his wife on Thursday. Meanwhile, reports have suggested that the leader is heading to Saudi Arabia.
Army Empowered to Use Force To Protect Lives & Property
The armed forces have been authorised to use "necessary force to "protect people, public property and the country," Sri Lankan Army said in a statement on Thursday, 14 July, according to NewsWire.
'Will Not Leave Country Until Friday': Former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa
Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, through an undertaking via their lawyers, said that they will not leave the country until the Fundamental Rights petition filed against them is heard on Friday, 15 July.
Basil Rajapaksa was turned back from the Colombo Airport as he attempted to leave the country on Tuesday, 12 July.
Following this, a petition was filed in the country's Supreme Court on Tuesday to prevent the former PM and other influential officials of the Rajapaksa regime from fleeing the country without the apex court's approval.
Protesters Leave President Gotabaya's House
The anti-government demonstrators who forced their way into President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's house on 9 July, vacated the premises on Thursday, 14 July, DailyMirror reported.
Flight Carrying Prez Gotabaya Most Tracked in the World
A Saudi Arabian Airlines flight, from Maldives to Singapore, reportedly with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on board, is the most tracked flight, according to Bloomberg.
Saudia SV 788 from Male was being tracked by almost 5,000 users as of 7:43 a.m. GMT, according to data from Flightradar24.com.
Opposition to Propose Name for New PM on Friday
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena is expected to propose a new name, arrived at by consensus, for the prime minister's post at 10 am on Friday, 15 July, opposition MP Dr Harsha de Silva said.
In a Twitter message, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP said that the decision has been taken on a request made by acting President and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Rajapaksa to Stay in Singapore, Not Travel to Saudi Arabia
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his wife will stay in Singapore and not travel to Saudi Arabia, news agency ANI reported.
Gotabaya Reaches Singapore
The Saudi Arabian Airlines plane carrying Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa lands in Singapore, AFP reports.
'Parliament Won't Be Convened Tomorrow': Speaker
Amid a delay in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that the Parliament will not be convened on Friday, 15 July.
It had earlier been decided at the party leaders meeting that the Parliament would be convened on Friday, 15 July, after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa handed in his resignation on 13 July.
The Speaker further said that it will be summoned within three days after receiving the President’s resignation letter.
'President Secretariat Still for People': Protesters
Anti-government protesters have said that although all buildings stormed by them is being vacated, the President's Secretariat "will still be for people."
"We want to show we're capable. If we leave here, we can come back the next minute if we want, " Danish Ali, a Sri Lankan protester, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
The protesters had breached the president's house on 9 July and occupied the PM's office and surrounded the parliament on 13 July. Earlier on Thursday, they said that they would clear out the premises of the government buildings.
'Gotabaya Here on Private Visit': Singapore
The Singapore Foreign Ministry, on Thursday said that President Gotabaya was in the country for a "private visit."
"He has not asked for asylum and neither has he been granted asylum," the ministry said, according to Reuters.
KYS Protests at Sri Lanka High Commission in Delhi
Krantikari Yuva Sangathan members staged a protest at High Commission of Sri Lanka over the ongoing economic and political crisis, in New Delhi on Thursday.
Acting Prez Transfers Rakna Lanka Ltd Back to Defence Ministry
A Gazette notifying the transfer of Rakna Arakshana Lanka Ltd, a private security company, back to the Defence Ministry was issued by acting President and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last week had issued a Gazette Extraordinary bringing the Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Limited under the Ministry of Investment Promotion, NewsWire reported.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Resigns
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled to Singapore via the Maldives, has emailed his resignation letter to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, according to NewsWire.
'Prez Wouldn't Have Resigned if He Was in Sri Lanka': Maldives Speaker
Maldives Speaker and former President Mohamed Nasheed said that Gotabaya would not have resigned "if he were still in Sri Lanka and fearful of losing his life."
"I hope Sri Lanka can now move forward. I commend the thoughtful actions of the government of Maldives. My best wishes to the people of Sri Lanka," he added.
Gotabaya had reportedly decided to flee to Maldives because of his 'close friendship' with Nasheed.
'Will Announce Gotabaya's Resignation on Friday' : Speaker
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said on Thursday, 14 July, that the official announcement for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation will be done on Friday, 15 July, after legal verification, NewsWire reported.