Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has stated that the absence of a proper Easter Sunday investigation has meant that this issue has still not been fully resolved.

In a special statement, Acting President Wickremesinghe, explained that when he took over as Prime Minister on May 13th the economy had collapsed, with power cuts lasting 5 hours a day. In the two months since then, the Acting President explained that power cuts had been reduced to 3 hours a day, fertiliser has been provided to the farmers and the gas shortage in the country has been solved.

He further stated that last minute he explained July would be a difficult period for the supply of fuel. However, diesel stocks have been secured and are being distributed while from the 21st of July petrol will also be distributed.

He also explained that relief was being provided to the citizens of the country who are struggling with the economic crisis. The Acting President stated that the loans taken by paddy farmers who have planted fields less than 2 acres have been cancelled. While due to the drop in the world oil prices, the fuel prices in the country have also been reduced.

While highlighting the steps taken so far, the Acting President further explained that negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were nearing conclusion, and discussions for assistance with foreign countries was also progressing.

Acting President Wickremesinghe also said that due to the incomplete nature of the Easter Sunday attack he is requesting the assistance of the UK Government and their intelligence services.

He went on to explain that the current political crisis in the country is due to the Executive Presidency, and stated that the 19th Amendment would be re-introduced which would address many of the concerns of the public.

The Acting President went on to explain that there were elements within society who were attempting to disrupt the peace in the country. He explained that these elements would be prohibited from disrupting the country’s progress. Hon. Wickremesinghe further stated that the peaceful protesters who had legitimate concerns would be engaged with by the Government and solutions would be found for them.

Acting President Wickremesinghe called upon the political parties in the country to put aside their differences and not allow the country to suffer over differences over an individual. He urged them to come together and form an All-Party Government which would allow the country to recover from the economic crisis.


*Acting President’s Media Division*
*18th July 2022*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo1NLu-2Kug&authuser=0

The head of the UN Country Team in Sri Lanka has urged senior politicians to ensure a peaceful transfer of power in line with the national Constitution, following weeks of protests that finally saw the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday.

In a statement issued on behalf of the UN in Sri Lanka,Resident Coordinatornna Hanaa Singer said that it was “imperative that the transition of power is accompanied by broad and inclusive consultation within and outside Parliament.

According to news reports, Mr. Rajapaksa offered his resignation after fleeing the country and arriving in Singapore, having first flown to the Maldives on Wednesday after tens of thousands of protesters stormed his official residence in the capital Colombo earlier in the week.

The former president and his family have been blamed by demonstrators for failing to prevent a major economic crisis that has created acute shortages of food, fuel, medical supplies, and left the country teetering on the edge of economic ruin, having entered discussions with the International Monetary Fund over an emergency bailout.

Mr. Rajapaksa’s resignation led to jubilant celebrations on the streets of the capital, and marked the end of nearly 20 years of rule by the powerful family.

Despite the relative calm on Friday morning, there were reportedly long queues once more forfuel and LP gas

In her statement, Ms. Singer recalled that Secretary-General António Guterres has highlighted the importance of addressing the root causes of the current instability and the people’s grievances.

Dialogue with all stakeholders is the best way to address the concerns of fulfil the aspirations of all Sri Lankans”, she said.

She added that the authorities now needed to “ensure that in maintaining law and order, the security forces exercise restraint and operate in strict compliance with human rights principles and standards.”

The Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe – who has held that office a total of six times – was sworn in as president on a temporary basis on Friday, and Sri Lanka’s parliamentarians are due to begin the process of selecting a new president on Saturday, before taking a formal vote on 20 July.

Ms Singer said that the United Nations stood ready to “support the Government and people of Sri Lanka, to address both immediate and long-term needs.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Russia for causing unrest in Sri Lanka as well as around the world due to the blocking of food products during the invasion of Ukraine.

One of the major tactics Russia has used in their invasion of Ukraine is the creation of an “economic shock,” Zelenskyy said, adding that several countries experiencing food and fuel shortages due to the disruption in the supply chain have benefitted Russia’s agenda.

Highlighting the crisis in Sri Lanka during a recent address at the Asian Leadership Conference in Seoul, he further said “The shocking food and fuel price hikes led to a social explosion. No one knows now how it will end.”

War in Ukraine has left an estimated 1.6 billion people in 94 countries exposed to at least one dimension of finance, food, or energy crisis, with around 1.2 billion living in “perfect-storm” countries severely vulnerable.

Amid the ongoing protests, Sri Lanka’s now acting President, Wickremesinghe stepped down from his post of Prime Minister due to the escalation in violence and protests in the country.

Sri Lanka is suffering its worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948, which comes on the heels of successive waves of COVID-19, threatening to undo years of development.

Notably, the oil supply shortage has forced schools and government offices to close until further notice. Reduced domestic agricultural production, a lack of foreign exchange reserves, and local currency depreciation have fuelled the shortages.

Moreover, due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the increase in hunger since the start of the war is only ascending.

The number of severely food insecure people doubled from 135 million prior to the pandemic, to 276 million over just two years. The ripple effects of the war could push this number to 323 million.

The Group of Seven (G7) leaders during the recently held summit also discussed the impact of Russia’s war on food and energy supplies including the global economy and said the bloc is determined to support Ukraine in producing and exporting grain, oil, and other agricultural products.

They called upon Russia to cease, without condition, its attacks on agricultural and transport infrastructure and enable free passage of agricultural shipping from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea.

In a recent agreement between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, a months-long blockade of grain deliveries via the Black Sea will break, the UN Secretary-General Guterres said in a statement calling it a critical step forward in ensuring the safe and secure export of Ukrainian products.