Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to be sworn in as the temporary President of Sri Lanka tomorrow morning. His swearing in is expected to take place after receiving President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s letter of resignation confirming his official stepping down.

Despite reports on Rajapaksa’s willingness to step down from his position as the Head of State, no official declaration has been made to date.

MIAP

Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued an extraordinary gazette declaring that several institutes which had previously been under the Ministry of Investment Promotion will be taken under the purview of the Ministry of Defence.

Accordingly, the Board of Investment, the Department of Immigration and Emigration and several other government bodies will be taken under the Ministry of Defence.

These institutes were handed over to the Ministry of Investment Promotion by the order of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the President after Dhammika Perera the business magnet was sworn in as the Minister in charge of the subject.

MIAP

Following claims on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation, reports about Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena being informed of the matter meet contradiction with each other. Early reports claimed that the official announcement on the President’s resignation will be made public through the Speaker, but latest coverage claims that he has not yet announced the official resignation of Rajapaksa.

Meanwhile, the Speaker’s Media Secretary issued a statement saying that the Speaker has received President Rajapaksa’s letter of resignation through the Singaporean Ambassador to Sri Lanka.

The statement adds that the President’s resignation will be officially announced by the Speaker tomorrow after confirming the accuracy of the letter.

MIAP

The Sri Lankan authorities must not impose a blanket order authorising use of force during the state of emergency that has been announced and refrain from use of the armed forces to police people’s protest said Amnesty International today following a new order empowering armed forces to maintain law and order in Colombo.

“The recent escalation of the authorities’ response to protests by calling in the armed forces, firing at protestors and excessive use of tear gas which resulted in the death of one person yesterday is deeply worrying,” said Yamini Mishra, Amnesty International’s South Asia Regional Director.

On the morning of 13 July 2022, thousands of protestors started making their way towards the Prime Minister’s office and the Parliament in Colombo. After an angry face-off, protesters breached the gates and took over the Prime Minister’s office. Amnesty International staff present at the protest location confirmed that law enforcement officers fired volleys of teargas against people, including children and journalists some of whom were seen escaping the plumes while coughing and sputtering. Dozens of protesters were injured, and one was reported dead. At Galle Face, helicopters flew low overhead, where a rolling peaceful protest site had been established three months ago in the prolonged agitation over the economic crisis in the country. At another protest near the Parliament later the same day, more than 80 people were reported to be injured and admitted to hospital.

At 3pm the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe delivered a televised address in which he said he had ordered the military to “do whatever is necessary to restore order”. On 14 July 2022, a press release was issued by the army announcing a warning that they will use force to restore law and order in the country.

Any blanket order authorising use of force by armed forces is problematic even during times of emergency. The armed forces should not be involved in the policing of public assemblies, since they are trained to fight against enemies and not to protect and control civilians.

Amnesty calls upon law enforcement agencies to act with restraint to avoid further serious injury and loss of life. They may only use the minimum level of force necessary force to bring a situation under control where doing so is strictly necessary and proportionate. Even in instances where some parts of a protests turn violent, law enforcement must assess the situation on a case-by-case basis with use of force only where absolutely necessary and only against those engaged in violence. It must be strictly proportionate to the situation faced by law enforcement, which means authorities must not cause more harm than they seek to avert.

“At a time when the country is facing a dire economic crisis and protests are growing in scale, authorities must make comprehensive efforts to de-escalate the situation and focus resources on ensuring people can access essential goods and services, in line with international human rights law and standards,” said Yamini Mishra.

Maldivian Speaker and former President of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed claimed that the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resigned.

“President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resigned. I hope Sri Lanka can now move forward. I believe the President would not have resigned if he were still in Sri Lanka, and fearful of losing his life. I commend the thoughtful actions of the Government of Maldives. My best wishes to the people of Sri Lanka,” Nasheed wrote on his Twitter handle.

MIAP

The Colombo Crimes Division has taken over the probe into the firearm and ammo that were allegedly stolen during an anti-government protest at the Polduwa junction near the Parliament complex yesterday (14).

On the advice of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police for Western Province Deshabandu Thennakoon, investigations were taken over by the Colombo Crimes Division, said Police Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police Nihal Thalduwa.

During the protests, two army officers were attacked by a group of protesters and one soldier who was seriously injured is currently receiving treatment at the Army Hospital, Colombo. The firearm belonging to this army officer and two magazines containing sixty live ammo have been allegedly stolen.

An investigative unit of the CCD has also obtained a statement from the injured army officer.

MIAP

The Prime Minister of the All-Party Government will be announced before 10 am tomorrow (15), said Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dr. Harsha De Silva, on his Twitter handle.

The Opposition MP’s comments come in as the post of Prime Minister is vacant and Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe who is serving as the acting President infromed the Speaker to appoint a new Prime Minister for an all-party government. The SJB, accordingly, has decided to nominate a Prime Minister candidate.

MP Silva further noted that opposition parties will discuss with various parties and groups in government to collect such a consensus, and the SJB, therefore, has decided to appoint the PM in consultation with and agreement of all the stakeholders.

MIAP

Parliament will not be convened tomorrow (15) as announced earlier, said Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

The Speaker added that Parliament will be convened within three days of receiving the President’s Letter of Resignation.

MIAP