Mohammed Ali Sabry has resigned from his post as the Minister of Finance a day after he was sworn in.
Sabry has tendered his letter of resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
MIAP
Jeewan Thondaman steps down from Ministerial Portfolio. CWC leaves Government
Jeewan Thondaman announced he has stepped down from his position as the State Minister of Estate Housing and Community Infrastructure.
His letter of resignation has been handed over to the President.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) Senthil Thondaman said his party will be leaving the government and acting as an independent group in Parliament, making it the second political party to leave the government amidst the anti-government uprising.
Earlier, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) had left the government to serve as an independent group in Parliament.
In the wake of the rapidly growing opposition against the government in its alleged failure to settle the devastating economic and other crises befallen Sri Lanka, the dialogue of whether the government will lose the majority in Parliament is hitting its fever pitch now.
MIAP
Sajith proposes to abolish the Executive Presidency within this week
The Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa stated in Parliament today (05) that no one from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya representing the Opposition will obtain opportunistic ministerial portfolios.
Premadasa said that if they want to come to power it would be with the blessings of the people.
Meanwhile, he said that the government should now listen to the protests and resort to a system of abolishing the executive presidency.
If possible, it should start this week, he said.
Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe new CBSL Chief
Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe has been appointed as the new Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).
Weerasinghe served as a Deputy Governor for the CBSL and will be serving as the new Governor upon the stepping down of predecessor Ajith Nivard Cabraal.
He will assume office on April 07.
MIAP
Anura urges the Speaker to adjourn the Parliamentary debate and convene a meeting of party leaders
Jathika Jana Balawegaya leader Anura Dissanayake said in Parliament today (05) that there was no point in talking about bills without ministers in parliament now and that a meeting of party leaders should be convened immediately to discuss the situation in the country and take decisions.
Accordingly, the Member of Parliament requested the Speaker to immediately adjourn the Parliamentary debate and convene a meeting of the party leaders.
Long-denied IMF report tabled in Parliament
The report of the International Monetary Fund on Sri Lanka was tabled in Parliament today (05).
The Finance Ministry had received the draft of the report, but at the recent All Party Conference, former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa said it was not possible to present it.
However, the final report was tabled in Parliament today amidst a heated situation.
Meanwhile, Minister Wimal Weerawansa and 16 other government MPs function independently and Anura Priyadarshana Yapa on behalf of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party also informed Parliament that all 12 of their MPs function independently in parliament
Protests at Lipton Circle(PHOTOS)
The protests against the government, including the President, are still active and are joined by all sections of society.
Photographs: Ajith Seneviratne
Foreign missions call on the Govt to respect the right to peaceful protests
US Ambassador Julie Chang joined several other heads of missions in Colombo to call on the Government to respect the people’s right to peaceful protests.
“Sri Lankans have a right to protest peacefully – essentially for democratic expression. I am watching the situation closely, and hope the coming days bring restraint from all sides, as well as much-needed economic stability and relief for those suffering,” Ambassador Chang said on Twitter.
The Office of the European Union expressed concern over the state of emergency and strongly urged Sri Lankan authorities to safeguard democratic rights of all citizens, including the right to free assembly and dissent, which has to be peaceful. “Challenging times for Sri Lankan people – EU continues to follow situation closely,” the EU office in Colombo said.
The German Ambassador in Colombo Holger Seubert associated himself with the sentiments of the EU and added that people demonstrating for their rights is no emergency. “It’s the emergency that brings them to the streets,” he said.
The Canadian High Commissioner in Colombo David McKinnon said that the freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest are fundamental to the success of any democracy, including Sri Lanka’s. “The free exchange of ideas is also how solutions to challenges will be found,” he said on Twitter.
Meanwhile thousands of Lankans abroad from around the world yesterday staged protests demanding the Government resign over the failure to resolve multiple crises.
Protestors from Australia, New Zealand, UK, France, US, Finland, Canada, Italy and Germany held placards and shouted slogans demanding that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa step down along with the rest of the Government.
Irrespective of religion or race, Sri Lankans living overseas gathered in unity to show their support to fellow Lankans at home, who are suffering from the worst economic crisis, amidst a state of emergency, where curfew has been imposed countrywide.
They called on the Government to stop oppression against people’s right to protest peacefully.
A small group of protestors have gathered outside President Gotabaya Rakapaksa’s son’s house in Los Angeles, USA, with protestors calling on him to call his father back home.
The protester said that President Gotabaya had to go down and his money had to come back. The protester said that people in Los Angeles are with Sri Lankans
Protests in front of the President’s house in America
It is reported that protests have also taken place in front of the house in Los Angeles, USA where the son of President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa resides. It is reported that a group of Sri Lankans residing in the United States has been involved in this.
The group of Sri Lankans has staged this protest demanding the President’s son Manoj Rajapaksa to bring his father back to America.
Tissa Jananayake apologizes to the people
Tissa Jananayake, a popular tuition teacher who supported Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in the 2019 presidential election, has apologized to the people.
It is about deceiving and supporting this unfortunate regime.
Following is a note he posted on his Facebook page.
