Sri Lanka

Le président du Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa a accepté samedi de démissionner la semaine prochaine, quelques heures après avoir été contraint de fuir sa ...

Trois personnes ont été blessées par balles quand les forces de l’ordre ont tenté de disperser la foule massée dans le quartier administratif de la capitale, à grand renfort de gaz lacrymogènes. « Il a aussi abandonné ses chaussures ! ». Les manifestations pour exiger la démission de M. Rajapaksa ont rassemblé samedi des centaines de milliers de personnes, des manifestants ayant même forcé les autorités ferroviaires à les acheminer en trains, alors que le pays n’a presque plus une goutte d’essence. Des manifestants ont ensuite diffusé en direct sur les réseaux sociaux des vidéos de la foule déambulant à l’intérieur, certains s’égayant dans la piscine présidentielle ou dans les chambres à coucher. « Le président a été escorté en lieu sûr », a indiqué une source de la Défense à l’AFP. Les soldats gardant la résidence officielle ont tiré en l’air pour dissuader les manifestants d’approcher du palais jusqu’à ce qu’il soit évacué. Mais cela n’a pas suffi à calmer la colère des manifestants qui dans la soirée ont assiégé sa résidence, en son absence, et y ont mis le feu, sans faire de blessés.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Le président du parlement sri-lankais a indiqué que le président Gotabaya Rajapaksa avait accepté de démissionner à compter de mercredi ...

Ces événements surviennent après la plus grande manifestation à ce jour qui a balayé le Sri Lanka alors que des dizaines de milliers de personnes ont franchi les barricades et sont entrées dans la résidence du président Gotabaya Rajapaksa et dans le bureau voisin. Les manifestants sont également entrés par effraction dans la résidence privée du premier ministre sri-lankais et y ont mis le feu, quelques heures après qu’il a annoncé qu’il démissionnerait lorsqu’un nouveau gouvernement serait formé. L’annonce est intervenue quelques heures après que des manifestants ont pris d’assaut la résidence officielle du président pour exprimer leur colère face à la grave crise économique du pays.

Les États-Unis ont mis en garde les partisans du gouvernement contre toute attaque contre des manifestants ou des journalistes, mais ont également critiqué les ...

«Le peuple sri-lankais a le droit d’élever pacifiquement sa voix, et nous demandons une enquête complète, l’arrestation et la poursuite en justice de toute personne impliquée dans tout incident violent lié à la manifestation», a déclaré le porte-parole. M. Rajapaksa a entretenu des relations difficiles avec les États-Unis en raison de son rejet des allégations de crimes de guerre lors de la sanglante de la guerre civile sri-lankaise, qui a duré plusieurs décennies, et de son partenariat économique étroit avec la Chine. Washington appelle également «le Parlement sri-lankais à aborder cette étape avec la volonté d’améliorer la situation de la nation, et non celle d’un parti politique en particulier», a poursuivi le porte-parole.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa did not start out in life as a politician, unlike his elder brother Mahinda.

Hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and populist tax cuts, Sri Lanka fell into its worst economic crisis since the end of colonial rule. Taking early retirement he emigrated to the United States, where he worked in information technology. Local armed groups allegedly affiliated with ISIL (ISIS) were blamed for the attacks. He reappointed Mahinda as prime minister and a slew of other relatives into ministerial roles, cementing the Rajapaksa family as one of the most dominant in Sri Lanka’s post-independence history. His campaign was little affected by two lawsuits in the United States that accused him of involvement in the abduction and murder of a journalist, as well as being complicit in the torture of a man belonging to the ethnic Tamil community. After the dramatic storming of the president’s official residence by thousands of protesters on Saturday, the speaker of parliament said in a video statement that Rajapaksa had informed him that he would step down on July 13.

Le président du Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa a accepté samedi de démissionner la semaine prochaine, quelques heures après avoir été contraint de fuir sa ...

Les manifestations pour exiger la démission de M. Rajapaksa ont rassemblé samedi des centaines de milliers de personnes, des manifestants ayant même forcé les autorités ferroviaires à les acheminer en trains, alors que le pays n’a presque plus une goutte d’essence. Les protestataires ont également investi les bureaux de la présidence à proximité devant lesquels des manifestants campaient depuis trois mois. Des manifestants ont ensuite diffusé en direct sur les réseaux sociaux des vidéos de la foule déambulant à l’intérieur, certains s’égayant dans la piscine présidentielle ou dans les chambres à coucher. « C’est la chambre de Gotabaya, voici les sous-vêtements qu’il a laissés », s’extasiait un jeune homme, brandissant un slip noir sur une vidéo en direct, repartagée sur les réseaux sociaux. « Le président a été escorté en lieu sûr », a indiqué une source de la Défense à l’AFP. Les soldats gardant la résidence officielle ont tiré en l’air pour dissuader les manifestants d’approcher du palais jusqu’à ce qu’il soit évacué. Les États-Unis ont exhorté dimanche les futurs nouveaux dirigeants du pays à « travailler rapidement » à des solutions pour restaurer la stabilité économique et répondre au mécontentement populaire face à la dégradation des conditions économiques, « notamment les pénuries d’électricité, de nourriture et de carburant », a déclaré un porte-parole du département d’État.

Demonstrators break in shouting slogans against Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has been moved for his safety.

However, despite mass protests and enduring public calls for the president to resign, he has so far refused. Images from the scene showed protesters flooding up the grand staircase of the colonial-era building chanting calls for the president to go. According to the defence ministry, Rajapaksa had been relocated from the house on Friday and taken into military protection over concerns that the planned protest would escalate.

Protesters broke into the Sri Lankan leader's official residence in Colombo on Saturday as more than 100000 amassed outside, according to police, ...

Schools have been suspended and fuel has been limited to essential services. A police curfew that was earlier imposed in several police divisions in the Western Province of Sri Lanka was lifted on Saturday. Several politicians and the Bar Association in Sri Lanka referred to the curfew as being "illegal," saying there had been no instances of violence to justify imposing the measure. At least 31 people, including two police officers, have been injured in the protests and are receiving treatment, according to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL). Two of the injured are in critical condition, according to police.

Thousands of people demonstrated in the capital against the island nation's worst economic crisis in recent memory and demanded President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ...

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Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, whose family many hold responsible for the worst economic crisis in decades, was moved to safety ahead of the ...

A new prime minister and cabinet were sworn in but as the economic situation worsens, anger is beginning to spill over again. Wickremesinghe told parliament recently the country was “bankrupt.” Asking the president to step down he said, “The siege is over. But the country was struggling in the negotiations. Earlier in the day, thousands of people carrying the yellow and red Sri Lankan flag marched toward the president’s home chanting “Gota, go home.” The police fired tear gas to deter the surging crowds. “We are desperate,” said Himantha Wickremerathne, a 34-year-old lawyer who joined the protests.

Sri Lankan protesters demanding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resign forced their way into his official residence and nearby office on Saturday, ...

In April, Sri Lanka announced it is suspending repaying foreign loans due to a foreign currency shortage. Footage released on Saturday showed people in a jubilant mood taking a dip in the garden pool of the president's residence. Last month, Wickremesinghe said the country's economy has collapsed. Opposition parties in parliament were currently discussing the formation of a new government. But people's patience wore thin as shortages of fuel, medicine and cooking gas only increased and oil reserves ran dry. At least 34 people, including two police officers, were wounded in scuffles as protesters tried to enter the residence.

The prime minister's spokesperson, Dinouk Colambage, said Wickremesinghe told party leaders that he will resign when all parties have agreed on forming a ...

“His claim that he was voted in by the Sinhala Buddhists is not valid now,” said Ven. Omalpe Sobitha, a prominent Buddhist leader. In April, Sri Lanka announced it is suspending repaying foreign loans due to a foreign currency shortage. Last month, Wickremesinghe said the country’s economy has collapsed. Thousands of protesters entered the capital from the suburbs after police lifted an overnight curfew. At least 34 people including two police officers were wounded in scuffles as protesters tried to enter the residence. The president’s older brother resigned as prime minister in May after violent protests saw him seek safety at a naval base.

Les protestataires réclament avec insistance le départ du président Gotabaya Rajapaksa, accusé de mauvaise gestion alors que le pays est frappé par des ...

Des milliers de soldats ont été déployés dans la capitale. La chaîne privée Sirasa TV a montré des images de la foule faisant irruption dans le palais présidentiel jusqu'à présent sévèrement gardé. La source de la Défense a indiqué que M. Rajapaksa était toujours le président du pays et qu'il était protégé par l'armée dans un lieu tenu secret. Le président du Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a fui samedi sa résidence officielle de Colombo quelques minutes avant qu'elle ne soit prise d'assaut par des milliers de manifestants en colère, a indiqué à l'AFP une source de la Défense.

Des dizaines de milliers de manifestants anti-gouvernementaux ont envahi, samedi, la résidence du président sri lankais, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, le contraignant ...

Le principal hôpital de Colombo a fait état de trois personnes blessées par balle et de 36 autres souffrant de difficultés respiratoires à cause des gaz lacrymogènes massivement employés. "Nous ne savons toujours pas où il se trouve, mais nous savons qu'il est avec la marine du Sri Lanka et qu'il est en sécurité". "Le couvre-feu n'a pas eu d'effet dissuasif. Il a en fait encouragé davantage de personnes à descendre dans les rues en guise de défi", a déclaré le responsable de la Défense. "Des passagers ont réquisitionné des trains pour rejoindre Colombo". Le Premier ministre avait convoqué une réunion d'urgence du gouvernement pour discuter d'une "résolution rapide" de la crise. Des responsables gouvernementaux ont dit ignorer les intentions de Gotabaya Rajapaksa après sa fuite.

Le président du Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a fui samedi son palais de Colombo quelques minutes avant qu'il ne soit pris d'assaut par des centaines de ...

Vendredi, les forces de l’ordre avaient imposé un couvre-feu pour tenter de décourager les protestataires de descendre dans la rue. Le principal hôpital de Colombo a fait état de trois personnes blessées par balle et de 36 autres souffrant de difficultés respiratoires à cause des gaz lacrymogènes massivement employés. « Le couvre-feu n’a pas eu d’effet dissuasif. « Nous ne savons toujours pas où il se trouve, mais nous savons qu’il est avec la marine du Sri Lanka et qu’il est en sécurité ». Mais cette mesure a été levée après des menaces de poursuites contre le chef de la police formulées par des partis d’opposition, des militants des droits de la personne et le barreau du pays. Un peu plus tôt, des centaines de milliers de personnes étaient rassemblées dans les rues alentours, selon les estimations de la police, tandis que plusieurs centaines réussissaient à pénétrer dans le palais, juste après la fuite du président.

Le Premier ministre Ranil Wickremesinghe, qui est le prochain dans la ligne de succession si le président Rajapaksa démissionne, a aussitôt convoqué une réunion ...

Il a en fait encouragé davantage de personnes à descendre dans les rues en guise de défi », a déclaré le responsable de la Défense. « Des passagers ont réquisitionné des trains pour rejoindre Colombo ». Même si le pays a presque épuisé ses maigres réserves d’essence, les manifestants, soutenus par les principaux partis d’opposition, ont également loué des bus privés pour se rendre dans la capitale. Alors que le pays est à cours de pétrole et n’arrive plus à rembourser sa dette extérieure, des manifestants ont envahi la résidence du président à Colombo, que ce dernier venait de fuir. Le principal hôpital de Colombo a fait état de 14 personnes soignées après avoir été touchées par des grenades lacrymogènes lors de la manifestation.

La crise politique au Sri Lanka tourne à la révolution. Des manifestants sont entrés ce samedi dans le palais présidentiel. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, le président ...

"Le président a été escorté en lieu sûr", a indiqué cette source. Vendredi, les forces de l'ordre avaient imposé un couvre-feu pour tenter de décourager les protestataires de descendre dans la rue, mais cette mesure a été levée après que des partis d'opposition, des militants des droits humains et le barreau du pays a menacé d'intenter des poursuites contre le chef de la police. "Il est toujours le président, il est protégé par une unité militaire", a-t-elle ajouté.

Le premier ministre s'est dit prêt à démissionner en faveur d'un gouvernement d'union nationale, alors que l'État insulaire d'Asie s'enfonce dans une crise ...

L'ONU avait exhorté les autorités sri-lankaises et les manifestants à veiller à ce que les rassemblements de samedi se déroulent dans le calme. Selon les autorités, quelque 20.000 soldats et policiers avaient été dépêchés à Colombo pour protéger le président. Vendredi, les forces de l'ordre avaient imposé un couvre-feu pour tenter de décourager les protestataires de descendre dans la rue. Le principal hôpital de Colombo a fait état de trois personnes blessées par balle et de 36 autres souffrant de difficultés respiratoires à cause des gaz lacrymogènes massivement employés. Le chef du gouvernement, qui est le prochain dans la ligne de succession si Gotabaya Rajapaksa démissionne, avait plus tôt convoqué une réunion d'urgence du gouvernement pour discuter d'une «résolution rapide» de la crise. Plus tard dans la journée, c'est la résidence du premier ministre, Ranil Wickremesinghe, qui est apparue en flammes.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was not at his residency when the protesters broke in.

A member of the far-right Oath Keepers militia brought explosives to Washington, D.C. ahead of the Jan. 6 deadly insurrection, according to court documents from the Justice Department. The big picture: Retired Lt. Gen. Gary Volesky, the Army's former top spokesman, responded to a tweet from Biden that said the rights of women had been stolen in the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Driving the news: Protesters had gathered outside of the restaurant and called Morton's manager to have the justice, who joined the Supreme Court's majority opinion overturning Roe v. - Thousands of people have traveled to the country's capital to join the protests, which have been ongoing for months. - The country is facing major food and medicine shortages, which doctors in the country said in May could lead to deaths,Al Jazeerareports. By the numbers: At least 31 people have been injured in the protests, per CNN, which cited the National Hospital of Sri Lanka.

Les États-Unis ont mis en garde les partisans du gouvernement contre toute attaque contre des manifestants ou des journalistes, mais ont également critiqué les ...

Les protestataires ont également investi les bureaux de la présidence à proximité devant lesquels des manifestants campaient depuis trois mois. Des manifestants ont ensuite diffusé en direct sur les réseaux sociaux des vidéos de la foule déambulant à l’intérieur, certains s’égayant dans la piscine présidentielle ou dans les chambres à coucher. «Le président a été escorté en lieu sûr», a indiqué une source de la Défense à l’AFP. Les soldats gardant la résidence officielle ont tiré en l’air pour dissuader les manifestants d’approcher du palais jusqu’à ce qu’il soit évacué.

De son côté, le premier ministre Ranil Wickremesinghe a tenté d'ouvrir la voie à un gouvernement d'union nationale, en convoquant en urgence une réunion de ...

Les manifestations pour exiger la démission de M. Rajapaksa ont rassemblé samedi des centaines de milliers de personnes, des manifestants ayant même forcé les autorités ferroviaires à les acheminer en trains, alors que le pays n’a presque plus une goutte d’essence. «Il a aussi abandonné ses chaussures!». Des manifestants ont ensuite diffusé en direct sur les réseaux sociaux des vidéos de la foule déambulant à l’intérieur, certains s’égayant dans la piscine présidentielle ou dans les chambres à coucher.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa est protégé par l'armée dans un lieu tenu secret, a fait savoir le ministère de la défense. Le premier ministre sri-lankais, ...

Le mois suivant, de nombreuses manifestations avaient éclaté. Neuf personnes avaient été tuées et plusieurs centaines blessées lors de troubles dans le pays. A court de devises étrangères en raison d’une mauvaise gestion économique et de l’impact de la crise provoquée par l’épidémie de Covid-19, ce pays insulaire rencontre des difficultés à importer, notamment les produits essentiels, ce qui provoque de graves pénuries de médicaments, de nourriture et de carburant. Les 22 millions d’habitants subissent également une inflation galopante et des coupures de courant prolongées depuis le début de l’année. La veille, un couvre-feu d’une durée indéterminée avait été décrété à Colombo, alors que des milliers de manifestants commençaient déjà à affluer pour demander la démission du président. « Le couvre-feu n’a pas eu d’effet dissuasif. Dans la journée, le premier ministre, Ranil Wickremesinga, a convoqué une réunion d’urgence du gouvernement ouverte aux dirigeants des partis politiques, pour discuter d’une « résolution rapide » de la crise politique en cours. Il a en fait encouragé davantage de personnes à descendre dans les rues en guise de défi, a déclaré un responsable de la défense. Des passagers ont réquisitionné des trains pour rejoindre Colombo. » Même si le pays a presque épuisé ses maigres réserves d’essence, les manifestants, soutenus par les principaux partis d’opposition, ont également loué des bus privés pour se rendre dans la capitale économique.

Le président du Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa, qui a fui samedi sa résidence officielle, envahie par des centaines de manifestants excédés par l'effondrement ...

Trois personnes ont été blessées par balles quand les forces de l’ordre ont tenté de disperser la foule massée dans le quartier administratif de la capitale, à grand renfort de gaz lacrymogènes. Les manifestations pour exiger la démission de M. Rajapaksa ont rassemblé samedi des centaines de milliers de personnes, des manifestants ayant même forcé les autorités ferroviaires à les acheminer en train, alors que le pays n’a presque plus une goutte d’essence. « Il a aussi abandonné ses chaussures ! ». Les protestataires ont également investi les bureaux de la présidence à proximité devant lesquels des manifestants campaient depuis trois mois. Des manifestants ont ensuite diffusé en direct sur les réseaux sociaux des vidéos de la foule déambulant à l’intérieur, certains s’égayant dans la piscine présidentielle ou dans les chambres à coucher. Mais cela n’a pas suffi à calmer la colère des manifestants qui dans la soirée ont assiégé sa résidence, en son absence, et y ont mis le feu, sans faire de blessés.

Le président du Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a fui samedi son palais de Colombo quelques minutes avant qu'il ne soit pris d'assaut par des centaines de ...

Vendredi, les forces de l’ordre avaient imposé un couvre-feu pour tenter de décourager les protestataires de descendre dans la rue. « Nous attendons des instructions », a déclaré à l’AFP un haut fonctionnaire. « Il a aussi abandonné ses chaussures ! ». « Le président a été escorté en lieu sûr », a indiqué une source de la Défense à l’AFP. « Il est toujours le président, il est protégé par une unité militaire », a ajouté cette source, selon laquelle les soldats gardant la résidence officielle ont tiré en l’air pour dissuader les manifestants d’approcher jusqu’à ce que M. Rajapaksa soit évacué. « Pour assurer la sécurité de tous les Sri-Lankais (le premier ministre) est favorable à cette recommandation des responsables des partis de l’opposition », ont affirmé ses services dans un communiqué. Le président du Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa a fui samedi sa résidence officielle, envahie par des centaines de manifestants excédés par l’effondrement économique du pays et exigeant sa démission.

De son côté, le premier ministre Ranil Wickremesinghe a tenté d'ouvrir la voie à un gouvernement d'union nationale, en convoquant en urgence une réunion de ...

« Le couvre-feu n’a pas eu d’effet dissuasif. AFP Vendredi, les forces de l’ordre avaient imposé un couvre-feu pour tenter de décourager les protestataires de descendre dans la rue. AFP AFP «Il a aussi abandonné ses chaussures!».

Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will resign after angry protesters stormed their homes, giving into popular ...

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Sri Lanka's prime minister said late last month that the island nation's debt-laden economy had “collapsed” as it runs out of ...

Meanwhile the Sri Lankan rupee has weakened in value to about 360 to the U.S. dollar. The prime minister appeared to be underscoring the challenges facing his government as it seeks help from the IMF and confronts criticism over the lack of improvement since he took office weeks earlier. The stark declaration in June by Wickremesinghe, who is in his sixth term as prime minister, threatened to undermine any confidence in the state of the economy and didn't reflect any specific new development. Earlier in June, the United Nations launched a worldwide public appeal for assistance. The government needed to boost its revenues as foreign debt for big infrastructure projects soared, but instead Rajapaksa pushed through the largest tax cuts in Sri Lankan history. Sri Lanka has suspended repayment of about $7 billion in foreign loans due this year out of $25 billion to be repaid by 2026. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Sri Lanka's prime minister said late last month that the island nation's debt-laden economy had “collapsed” as it runs out of money to pay for food and fuel. The tax cuts were recently were reversed, but only after creditors downgraded Sri Lanka's ratings, blocking it from borrowing more money as its foreign reserves sank. Growing numbers of Sri Lankans are seeking passports to go overseas in search of work. And its currency has collapsed by 80%, making imports more expensive and worsening inflation that is already out of control, with food costs rising 57%, according to official data. Sri Lankans are skipping meals as they endure shortages and lining up for hours to try to buy scarce fuel. Tropical Sri Lanka normally is not lacking for food, but people are going hungry.

Sri Lanka's departing prime minister says the island nation's debt-laden economy has “collapsed” as it runs out of money to pay for food and fuel.

——— Earlier in June, the United Nations launched a worldwide public appeal for assistance. ——— The prime minister appeared to be underscoring the challenges facing his government as it seeks help from the IMF and confronts criticism over the lack of improvement since he took office weeks earlier. ——— The government needed to boost its revenues as foreign debt for big infrastructure projects soared, but instead Rajapaksa pushed through the largest tax cuts in Sri Lankan history. ——— Tropical Sri Lanka normally is not lacking for food, but people are going hungry. ——— ——— Sri Lankans are skipping meals as they endure shortages and lining up for hours to try to buy scarce fuel. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lanka’s prime minister said late last month that the island nation’s debt-laden economy had “collapsed” as it runs out of money to pay for food and fuel.

The decision to step down on 13 July was taken to ensure a peaceful handover of power, says the parliamentary speaker, adding that public should respect the ...

The Speaker can appoint a new all-party government but whether they will be accepted by the protesters remains to be seen,” said political analyst Kusal Perera. The fertilizer ban was reversed in November. “The president and the prime minister must resign immediately. “The decision to step down on 13 July was taken to ensure a peaceful handover of power,” Abeywardena said. There were no immediate reports of injuries in the blaze. “This is a dicey situation.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has agreed to resign in the coming days, the speaker of Sri Lanka's Parliament said on a tumultuous Saturday that also saw the ...

When Vatican officials were looking for someone in Canada to act as a liaison for program planning during the Pope's visit later this month. "His claim that he was voted in by the Sinhala Buddhists is not valid now," said Ven. Omalpe Sobitha, a prominent Buddhist leader. Its total foreign debt amounts to US$51 billion, of which it must repay $28 billion by the end of 2027. At the president's seaside office, security personnel tried in vain to stop protesters who pushed through fences to run across the lawns and inside the colonial-era building. The president's older brother resigned as prime minister in May after violent protests saw him seek safety at a naval base. Opposition parties were discussing the formation of a new government. At least 34 people including two police officers were hurt in scuffles. But people's patience wore thin as shortages of fuel, medicine and cooking gas only increased and oil reserves ran dry. However Rajapaksa will remain temporarily to ensure a smooth transfer of power, Abeywardena added. Thousands of protesters entered the capital, Colombo, and swarmed into Rajapaksa's fortified residence. Video images showed jubilant crowds taking a dip in the garden pool. "Therefore, if this government leaves there should be another government."

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lanka's opposition political parties will meet Sunday to agree on a new government a day after the country's president and prime ...

Protesters later broke into the prime minister’s private residence and set it on fire, Wickremesinghe’s office said. The president’s older brother resigned as prime minister in May after violent protests saw him seek safety at a naval base. Video and pictures showed jubilant crowds splashing in the garden pool, lying on beds and using their cellphone cameras to capture the moment.

Calm returned to the streets of Sri Lanka's commercial capital Colombo on Sunday and protesters were jubilant as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa agreed to ...

The speaker had outlined proposals from a meeting of political parties on Saturday that would include parliament picking an acting president within a week. Some took selfies of the polished interiors, a striking contrast to the misery many have endured. The fertiliser ban was reversed in November. Others set fire to the private home of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who also agreed to resign to make way for an all-party government. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

On island's most chaotic day in months amid economic crisis, protesters storm president's residence and torch PM's home.

The protesters later broke into Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private residence and set it on fire. Outrage over Sri Lanka’s collapsing economy came to a boil on Saturday when tens of thousands of protesters stormed the colonial-era residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and later set the prime minister’s house on fire. On the island’s most chaotic day in months, protesters storm president’s residence and set PM’s home on fire in rage over the economic crisis.

COLOMBO — Sri Lankans roamed through a ransacked presidential palace on Sunday as calm returned to the commercial capital, Colombo, a day after protesters…

“We just came to see what’s going on.” (Reporting by Uditha Jayasinghe, Devjyot Ghoshal; Writing by Sanjeev Miglani; Editing by William Mallard, Robert Birsel) The speaker had outlined proposals from a meeting of political parties on Saturday that would include parliament picking an acting president within a week. Wickremesinghe, a six-time premier also seen by protesters as part of the ruling elite, also agreed to step down, his office said. Don’t destroy or loot.” A smashed vase lay next to it. Members of the security forces, some with assault rifles, stood outside the compound but did not stop people going in. Article content

Sri Lanka woke on Sunday to an uncertain future, with both its President and Prime Minister set to step down after thousands of protesters stormed their ...

If both Wickremesinghe and Rajapaksa resign, under the Sri Lankan constitution, the speaker of parliament will serve as acting president for a maximum of 30 days. Fellow journalists who rushed to their aid were then also attacked, Newsfirst reported. Two of the journalists from the Sri Lankan TV channel Newsfirst had their cameras rolling at the time. Among those injured is a lawmaker from eastern Sri Lanka, she added. Protesters also targeted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, setting on fire his private residence on Fifth Lane, an affluent neighborhood in the capital. Images show demonstrators inside the whitewashed colonial-era building and hanging banners from the balcony.

Firefighters try to douse a fire at the Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's private residence · Demonstrators protest inside the President's House ...

IMF officials told reporters they were hoping for the situation in Sri Lanka to improve. The economic crisis in Sri Lanka began earlier this year after its government suspended repayment of foreign loans due to a foreign currency shortage. The slogan, “Gota Go Home” was a consistent call, referring to the beleaguered president. A woman who came with her two teenage daughters told Al Jazeera she wanted to see how the presidents lived. The leaders are responsible for what has happened to this country,” K Chandra, a demonstrator, told Al Jazeera. On Sunday morning, many protesters were still camping in the president’s official residence.

COLOMBO — Sri Lankans roamed through the ransacked presidential palace on Sunday as calm returned to Colombo a day after protesters stormed the building ...

The speaker had outlined proposals from a meeting of political parties on Saturday that would include parliament picking an acting president within a week. Wickremesinghe, seen by protesters as part of the ruling elite, also agreed to step down, his office said. Don’t destroy or loot.” A smashed vase lay next to it. Petrol has been severely rationed and long lines have formed in front of shops selling cooking gas. Members of the security forces, some with assault rifles, stood outside the compound but did not stop people from going in. Frustration with the economic crisis boiled over on Saturday when a huge crowd of protesters surged passed armed guards into the presidential palace and took it over.

The speaker of Parliament says President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has agreed to resign, but the president has not been seen since protesters stormed the official ...

Mr. Wijewardena said that in the days to come, Sri Lankans would have to sacrifice modern comforts. The South Asian nation has run out of foreign currency to pay for fuel, bringing its economy grinding to a halt. The country is still in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to restructure billions of dollars in foreign debt, on which it has defaulted. As the country’s economy appeared to be headed for a crash, he made his brother Basil Rajapaksa the minister of finance last July. The situation has grown so desperate that Sri Lanka has asked President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia for a credit line to buy fuel. Officials have said that many of its traditional fuel suppliers are reluctant to sell to the country, as the state oil company is mired in debt it is struggling to pay off. Mr. Abeywardena, in a televised statement, said the president had informed him he would resign on July 13, “to ensure a peaceful transition of power.” Officials at the Defense Ministry and in the army did not immediately respond to questions about Mr. Rajapaksa’s location. By the evening, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who took office only in May and was also facing demands to resign, said he would step down, saying he had “the safety of all citizens” in mind. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the parliamentary speaker and an ally of the president, announced the development at the end of a chaotic day. In the official residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who had fled to an unknown location the day before, the protesters swam in the clear blue water of an outdoor pool, while others crowded around the edges. The president, he said, will resign on Wednesday “to ensure a peaceful transition of power.”

Sri Lanka's opposition political parties will meet Sunday to agree on a new government a day after the country's president and prime minister offered to ...

The president's older brother resigned as prime minister in May after violent protests saw him seek safety at a naval base. Sri Lanka announced in April that it was suspending repayment of foreign loans due to a foreign currency shortage. Protesters later broke into the prime minister's private residence and set it on fire, Wickremesinghe's office said. The government must submit a plan on debt sustainability to the IMF in August before reaching an agreement. Thousands of protesters entered the capital Colombo on Saturday and swarmed into Rajapaksa's fortified residence. Soldiers were deployed around the city with Chief of Defence Staff Shavendra Silva calling for public support to maintain law and order.

Protesters stormed the home of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and set Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's home ablaze over the country's economic collapse.

“My demand is that we have honest and educated people appointed from the present parliament to take us out of this immediate mess.” Visuals from local media showed a stream of visitors walking through an imposing stairway at the president’s home. Announcements were made to not steal or harm the property. Aid groups say nearly a quarter of the country’s 22 million residents are in need of food assistance. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in a tweet, said President Rajapaksa had lost the confidence of the Sri Lankan people. “It was the might of the people on show,” he said. Namal Ratnayake, 40, was part of the protesting crowd that marched toward the president’s office. Ganeshan Wignaraja, an economist at ODI, a U.K.-based global affairs think tank who has been involved in the IMF discussions described the economic situation as “hugely challenging.” In May, similar large-scale protests led to the resignation of Rajapaksa’s older brother Mahinda as prime minister and other family members. The anger over continued economic distress spilled over again, this time in greater force. He had moved out of his home a day ahead of the protests, and his whereabouts remain unknown. On Saturday, angry crowds stormed the presidential residence and office, and celebrated their victory by diving into the swimming pool and lounging on his bed.

Un mouvement de protestation contre la crise économique fait rage depuis des mois au Sri Lanka où le président Gotabaya Rajapaksa a promis samedi de ...

Après des mois de manifestations, en mai des partisans du président s'en sont pris violemment aux manifestants. Mahinda est adulé par la majorité ethnique cinghalaise pour avoir écrasé en 2009 la guérilla des Tigres tamouls, mettant fin à 37 ans de guerre civile. Il a considérablement endetté le pays, auprès de la Chine surtout envers laquelle d'énormes dettes ont été contractées pour financer des projets d'infrastructure faramineux et entachés de soupçons de corruption.

Depuis plusieurs mois, le peuple sri lankais proteste contre la crise économique qui fait rage dans leur pays. Un Québécois vous explique le conflit.

«Il y a une crise qui se prolonge, d’abord financière. Le pays n’a plus de dollars américains depuis un moment à cause d’une mauvaise gestion des partis politiques en place. Nous, à la maison, on s’est procuré un panneau solaire et des batteries pour pallier ça», a dit M. Bleau. Depuis plusieurs mois, le peuple sri lankais proteste contre la crise économique qui fait rage dans leur pays.

Analysts say that economic mismanagement by successive governments has weakened Sri Lanka's public finances, leaving national expenditure in excess of ...

The crisis has crippled Sri Lanka, once seen as a model for a developing economy. Fuel shortages have led to long queues at filling stations as well as frequent blackouts, and hospitals have run short of medicine. Months later, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. For months, opposition leaders and some financial experts urged the government to act, but it held its ground, hoping that tourism would bounce back and remittances would recover. Analysts say that economic mismanagement by successive governments has weakened Sri Lanka’s public finances, leaving national expenditure in excess of income and the production of tradable goods and services at inadequate levels. Rajapaksa has not commented directly but he plans to step down on July 13, the country’s parliamentary speaker said on Saturday, bowing to intense pressure after a violent day of protests in which demonstrators stormed the president’s official residence and set fire to the prime minister’s home in Colombo.

La résidence du premier ministre a elle été incendiée dans la soirée, et trois suspects ont été arrêtés dimanche, selon la police. Ces événements sont le point ...

Mais aucun candidat ne semble pour l’instant rassembler une majorité de suffrages. Joie de la victoire, puisque le président a promis qu’il quitterait son poste. Mais dimanche, pour les manifestants, l’humeur était à la joie. Un délai bien long étant donné l’état de crise du pays. «Notre lutte n’est pas finie», a expliqué Lahiru Weerasekara, un des étudiants à la tête du mouvement. La situation politique, elle, reste incertaine.

Prime minister as well as Rajapaksa will step down after months of protests culminated in attacks on their homes.

But it was not followed up by an official address or letter of resignation and on Sunday he still remained in hiding, reportedly under the protection of the military. President Rajapaksa had been facing months of sustained protests calling for him to step down from power but he had repeatedly refused. Wickremesinghe, whose private residence was set alight by protesters on Saturday, emphasised that the country was facing critical times and needed a stable government. Many of the protesters who have been demonstrating against President Rajapaksa are not supportive of many of the MPs, who they view as still part of the political establishment that caused Sri Lanka’s downfall. Soldiers were deployed around the city and the chief of defence staff, Shavendra Silva, called for public support to maintain law and order. The president’s whereabouts was unknown.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 73 ans, président depuis 2019, est membre d'un clan qui domine la vie politique sri-lankaise depuis des décennies. Son frère Mahinda, 76 ans ...

Après des mois de manifestations, en mai des partisans du président s'en sont pris violemment aux manifestants. Mahinda est adulé par la majorité ethnique cinghalaise pour avoir écrasé en 2009 la guérilla des Tigres tamouls, mettant fin à 37 ans de guerre civile. Il a considérablement endetté le pays, auprès de la Chine surtout envers laquelle d'énormes dettes ont été contractées pour financer des projets d'infrastructure faramineux et entachés de soupçons de corruption.

Protesters occupying government buildings say they will remain until the president and PM step down.

- Sri Lanka is also in the middle of discussions with the IMF for an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) lending arrangement, and needs a functioning government to continue its negotiations. - If Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigns on Wednesday, he will be the first Sri Lankan president who was unable to complete his tenure. - President Rajapaksa’s party still holds a majority in parliament. - Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, earnings from foreign tourists and remittances plummeted. This was followed by a 2020 general election in which his party won an overwhelming majority in parliament. - Following the resignation of the president, a government headed by the speaker of parliament is expected to lead the political transition to a new administration.

Dans la soirée, un mannequin à l'effigie du président Gotabaya Rajapaksa a été accroché au porche d'une tour d'horloge, sous les applaudissements de la foule, ...

Mais aucun candidat ne semble pour l’instant rassembler une majorité de suffrages. Joie de la victoire, puisque le président a promis qu’il quitterait son poste. Mais dimanche, pour les manifestants, l’humeur était à la joie. Un délai bien long étant donné l’état de crise du pays. «Notre lutte n’est pas finie», a expliqué Lahiru Weerasekara, un des étudiants à la tête du mouvement. La situation politique, elle, reste incertaine.

Protesters stormed the president and prime minister's homes over the country's economic crisis.

“I unite myself to the pain of the people of Sri Lanka, who continue to suffer the effects of the political and economic instability,’’ the pontiff said. “If these kinds of incidents keep on going, we can wave bye-bye to the IMF and any international assistance that is going to come to the country,” he said. Its total foreign debt amounts to $51 billion, of which it must repay $28 billion by the end of 2027. The government must submit a plan on debt sustainability to the IMF in August before reaching an agreement. The chief of defense staff, Shavendra Silva, called for public support to maintain law and order. Protesters remained in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence, his seaside office and the prime minister’s home, saying they would stay until the resignations are official.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka's prime minister said late last month that the island nation's debt-laden economy had “collapsed” as it runs out of ...

Earlier in June, the United Nations launched a worldwide public appeal for assistance. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Tropical Sri Lanka normally is not lacking for food, but people are going hungry. Article content Sri Lankans are skipping meals as they endure shortages and lining up for hours to try to buy scarce fuel. Article content COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s prime minister said late last month that the island nation’s debt-laden economy had “collapsed” as it runs out of money to pay for food and fuel. Article content

Dans la soirée, un mannequin à l'effigie du président Gotabaya Rajapaksa a été accroché au porche d'une tour d'horloge, sous les applaudissements de la foule, ...

Mais aucun candidat ne semble pour l’instant rassembler une majorité de suffrages. Joie de la victoire, puisque le président a promis qu’il quitterait son poste. Mais dimanche, pour les manifestants, l’humeur était à la joie. Un délai bien long étant donné l’état de crise du pays. «Notre lutte n’est pas finie», a expliqué Lahiru Weerasekara, un des étudiants à la tête du mouvement. La situation politique, elle, reste incertaine.

Thousands occupying the presidential palace are determined to stay until both the president and PM step down officially.

The economic crisis in Sri Lanka began earlier this year after the government suspended repayment of foreign loans due to a foreign currency shortage. Opposition parties were meeting in the capital on Sunday to agree on a new government. “Farmers are not being able to cultivate, fisherman have not been able to go to the sea … so support for regime change is island wide,” Kadirgamar said. Wickremesinghe had been part of crucial talks with the IMF for a bailout programme and with the World Food Programme to prepare for a predicted food crisis. Playwright Ruwanthie de Chickera told a news conference at the main protest site in Colombo: “The president has to resign, the prime minister has to resign and the government has to go”. Protesters in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo continue to occupy the offices of the president and prime minister for a second consecutive day, vowing they will stay put until both officially have resigned.

Good morning. We're covering the resignation of Sri Lanka's president, election results in Japan and Russia's bombardment of Donetsk, Ukraine.

Now, at least one has returned to the city’s streets, thanks to two pilots who pooled their savings to buy and restore the relic. “All my memories came back,” said one woman who used to ride hot dog buses in high school and who brought her 4-year-old son for the experience. Last week, Russia established a civilian administration and unveiled a new flag in border areas under its control — a sign, analysts said, that Moscow plans to annex the territory. “Back then, there was freedom, money and a whole lot of warmth,” Tong, 35, said. Russia has aggressively moved to take the entire Donbas region of Ukraine after seizing the Luhansk province last week. With inflation pressures mounting, the yen weakening, the war in Ukraine heightening fears of energy shortages and coronavirus infections rising, it could be a harder sell than ever. Maria Ressa, the Nobel Prize laureate, lost her appeal against a cyberlibel conviction and could face a lengthy prison sentence,The Guardian reports. It’s unclear what the next government will look like and what it can do immediately to address shortages of food, medicine, fuel and other essentials. But without him, the will to push revisions through a difficult parliamentary process could wane. Rajapaksa himself has not yet addressed the reports that he plans to resign later this week, and it’s unclear who is in charge. - Updates: To receive the latest updates in your inbox,sign up here. South Korea is known for its blazing broadband and innovative devices.

Leaders of Sri Lanka's protest movement said on Sunday they would occupy the residences of the president and prime minister until they finally quit office ...

They then moved on to the president's office and the prime minister's official residence. Frustration with the economic crisis boiled over on Saturday when a huge crowd of protesters surged past armed guards into the colonial-era presidential palace and took it over. The government has asked people to work from home and closed schools in an effort to conserve fuel. Gasoline has been severely rationed and long lines have formed in front of shops selling cooking gas. I wanted my kids and grandkids to see the luxurious lifestyles they were enjoying." Members of the security forces, some with assault rifles, stood outside the compound but did not stop people from going in.

Protest movements produce powerful symbols. Images of the citizens of Sri Lanka storming the presidential residence of the man who steered their country ...

When they started swimming in Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s pool, cooking in his kitchen and working out in the official gym, he had to know it was over for his family’s reign of economic destruction. For the first time since demonstrations began in March in the capital, Colombo, soldiers were seen joining the protests. Images of the citizens of Sri Lanka storming the presidential residence of the man who steered their country into financial ruin and then refused to step down sent a pointed message.

Rajapaksa will step down on Wednesday to allow for a smooth transfer of power, the parliament speaker announced on television late Saturday. The president left ...

“He asked me to inform the country that he will make his resignation on Wednesday July 13, because there is a need to hand over power peacefully,” Abeywardena said. Investors are likely to see Rajapaksa’s resignation as “marginally market positive” as it would remove a focal point of the protests, Johanna Chua, Hong Kong-based chief economist for Asia Pacific at Citigroup Inc., wrote in a note. International Monetary Fund representatives said they plan to continue technical discussions with the finance ministry and the central bank. “So as to ensure safety of the citizens, he is agreeable to this recommendation by the Opposition Party Leaders,” his media office said in a statement. “Freedom of media is paramount to democracy in Sri Lanka. The prime minister requests both the security forces and the protesters to act with restraint to prevent any violence and ensure the safety of the public,” the statement added. Wickremesinghe is safe, his office said in a text message, without elaborating. Sri Lanka’s dollar bonds due 2030 fell an 11th day on Monday, erasing earlier gains. “I urge everyone for the sake of the country to maintain peace to enable a smooth transition.” “President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed the officers to carry out the unloading and distribution of LPG as soon as the first ship arrives,” the statement added. “This is something we’re closely following,” he told reporters in Bangkok. “Thousands of people of all backgrounds are taking to the streets looking for accountability, looking for transparency, looking for a better future.” Blinken said it was incumbent on the government to find solutions to bring back the prospect of long-term economic stability and address the “powerful and palpable” discontent on the ground. Rajapaksa will step down on Wednesday to allow for a smooth transfer of power, the parliament speaker announced on television late Saturday. The president left his residence before the protesters breached security and entered his official home and offices and his whereabouts are unknown.

Protests in Sri Lanka, which forced out the president and prime minister, signal tough choices ahead for other countries with high debt and shortages of ...

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Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has informed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that he will resign, the prime minister's office said on Monday, ...

The country barely has any dollars left to import fuel, which has been severely rationed, and long lines have formed in front of shops selling cooking gas. This government needs to go home and we need better leaders." Foreign exchange reserves were quickly depleted as oil prices rose. "I came alone all this way because I believe we need to see this through. Another protester, Dushantha Gunasinghe, said he had travelled to Colombo from a town 130 km (80 miles) away, walking part of the way because of the fuel crunch. "The people's struggle is for wider political reforms.

Les manifestants qui ont chassé le président du Sri Lanka de son palais de Colombo avaient bien l'intention dimanche de continuer à occuper le bâtiment ...

Mais aucun candidat ne semble pour l’instant rassembler une majorité de suffrages. Joie de la victoire, puisque le président a promis qu’il quitterait son poste. Un délai bien long étant donné l’état de crise du pays. Mais dimanche, pour les manifestants, l’humeur était à la joie. « Notre lutte n’est pas finie », a expliqué Lahiru Weerasekara, un des étudiants à la tête du mouvement. La situation politique, elle, reste incertaine.

Sri Lanka's opposition parties are trying to cobble together an all-party government and pick candidates who can take over after President Gotabaya ...

“He asked me to inform the country that he will make his resignation on Wednesday July 13, because there is a need to hand over power peacefully,” Abeywardena said. Article content Article content Article content “The Army categorically denies having opened fire towards the protesters,” a media statement said. Article content A delivery of diesel from supplier Coral Energy, that was expected by July 9 has been delayed. Article content International Monetary Fund representatives said they plan to continue technical discussions with the finance ministry and the central bank. Wickremesinghe is safe, his office said in a text message, without elaborating. Article content Article content

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka is in a political vacuum for a second day Monday with opposition leaders yet to agree on who should replace its roundly…

Its total foreign debt amounts to $51 billion, of which it must repay $28 billion by the end of 2027. The government must submit a plan on debt sustainability to the IMF in August before reaching an agreement. Rajapaksa appointed Wickremesinghe as prime minister in May in an effort to solve the shortages and start economic recovery. However, in line with the protesters’ demand, opposition parties are keen on not allowing him take over even as acting president. Lawmaker Udaya Gammanpila said the main opposition United People’s Front and lawmakers who have defected Rajapaksa’s ruling coalition have had discussions and agreed to work together. Protesters remained in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence, his seaside office and the prime minister’s official home, which they stormed on Saturday demanding the two leaders step down.