Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Sri Lanka Udayanga Weeratunga in a statement calling in for protection for his life said that the President should completely be held accountable should anything happen to his life, his house set on fire or he be arrested.
In his controversial statement, Weeratunga added that should anything of the aforementioned nature happen, it will happen on the advice the President gives to his henchmen, knowingly or unknowingly.
The Rajapaksa relative questions how the President, who cannot protect a bus and even his parents’ grave, can protect the country and the people.
Sri Lankans are experiencing an unprecedented economic crisis: gas prices have tripled since last September and food has doubled in the last few months.
By Nicole Johnstone, news correspondent, in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s new prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, is expected to give his first address to the nation on Monday after being appointed last week.
A new cabinet is still being formed after all 26 members resigned along with the former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, whose younger brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa is still president.
The country’s economic and political crisis shows no sign of abating. Anti-government demonstrators, who have maintained a protest camp in Colombo, are calling on the president to resign.
The demonstrators are fed up with the country’s cost of living crisis. Long queues of people line up for gas and petrol and there is a shortage of most basic supplies.
At one gas shortage protest in the capital, a woman told Sky News: “I am a mother, I have one child and I can’t give them anything.”
One man called on the government to find a solution. “We need action, not debate, and we don’t need words,” he said.
Sri Lankans are experiencing an unprecedented economic crisis. Gas prices have tripled since last September and food has doubled in the last few months.
Chamali Jayamali is struggling to survive on two dollars a day – her family used to earn three dollars a day but her disabled husband’s job making paper bags at home has taken a hit because there’s a severe paper shortage in the country.
Chamali feels like she can’t get a break. With five people in the family to feed and a grandchild on the way she no longer buys chicken or fish because they’re too expensive. Instead, she cooks a vegetable curry once a day with kerosene.
Her daily cleaning salary is “useless”, she says, as she has to spend half of it paying for kerosene.
“All we have to say [to the government] is please give us some help,” Chamali says. “If not, resign and appoint someone who can do this.”
Image: Ranil Wickremesinghe has been appointed as Sri Lanka’s new prime ministerImage: Chamali Jayamali is struggling to survive on two dollars a day
The country has been hit with a perfect storm: the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and grievous economic mismanagement by the top levels of government have made the country almost bankrupt.
Sri Lanka has less than $50m (£41m) in foreign reserves and has more than $30bn (£24.5bn) of foreign debt.
In 2019, the government cut tax levels by 50% and two years later it banned chemical fertiliser overnight, drastically reducing agricultural production.
The decisions stunned economists and contributed to the country’s financial crisis.
Image: Sri Lankans are experiencing an unprecedented economic crisis
This week saw violence break out between pro and anti government forces, a night time curfew was imposed and the military patrolled the streets.
Now the country is waiting for new government ministers to be appointed and the government to stabilise.
But it’s unclear whether that will be enough to get protesters off the streets.
A discussion was held between Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) at the Prime Minister’s Office this (16) morning.
MPs Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Dayasiri Jayasekara joined the discussion from the SLFP side.
The two told the Prime Minister not to make any attempts on dividing the party by offering ministerial posts, warning that the new government may not be able to move further should such an attempt be made.
Accordingly, it is best that the SLFP serves in the Opposition and supports any positive move by the government without being submitted to it, Jayasekara informed, adding that any support extended by the SLFP will be decided and authorised by Party Chairman Maithripala Sirisena, according to sources.
Yesterday it was reported that five members of the SLFP were to be given ministerial portfolios of the Ranil-led government.
Islandwide curfew will be reimposed from 8 pm tonight (16) to 5 am tomorrow (17), announced the President’s Media Unit said.
The curfew will be imposed in accordance with the Public Security Act.
Accordingly, no one will be permitted to stay on a public road, railroad, park, playground or other public area, as well as any beach, except under the authority of a written permit by an authorising officer.
Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara urged the people not to queue up for fuel the next three days until the 1190 fuel station deliveries are completed, revealing that adequate fuel will be made available with the arrival of a diesel cargo yesterday.
In a tweet, the Minister also revealed that three vessels carrying diesel will arrive in the country in the next two weeks, backed by the Indian Credit line.
With the arrival of the Diesel cargo yesterday and 3 vessels to reach SL in the next 2 weeks on the @IndiainSL credit line, adequate fuel will be made available. Request the public not to queue up or top up the next 3 days until the 1190 fuel station deliveries are completed.
— Kanchana Wijesekera (@kanchana_wij) May 16, 2022
A person accused of retrieving 50,000 euros via the controversial underground money transfer aka Undiyal has been arrested by the Police Special Task Force in Pepiliyana, based on a tip-off.
The suspect is a 53-year old resident of Borella will be prosecuted for money laundering.
Yesterday, a person accused of attempting to transfer US$47,000 via the Undiyal system was arrested.
South-west monsoon condition is gradually establishing over the island.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-Western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts. Heavy showers about 100 mm can occur at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts.
Several spells of showers will occur in Northern Province and in Anuradhapura and Hambantota districts.
Strong winds about (40-50) kmph can be expected at times over the western slope of the central hills, Northern, North-Central and North-Western provinces and in Hambantota district.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
About one thousand Police officers have been called in to the Colombo city. These officers have reportedly been called in to Colombo from the Northern, Uva, Southern and Sabaragamuwa Provinces and the Police College.
The officers have been instructed to join the Mirihana Police Stadium under the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Colombo South this afternoon and to bring National Identity Cards, Police Identity Cards, pocket notebooks, raincoats, safety helmets and official clubs, according to reports.
These officers are expected to be deployed for special duties from tomorrow (17) to May 20.
A discussion between Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is reportedly being held since 9 am this (16) morning at the Prime Minister’s Office at Malpara Road, Colombo.
The SLFP has already decided to support the new Ranil-led government and a final decision would be made regarding the acceptance of ministerial posts today, according to sources.
