Sri Lanka news

Sri Lanka Economic Crisis Live Updates: The curfew imposed in Colombo and its suburbs to contain the protests against Sri Lankan President, ...

Sri Lankan shares fell more than 7%, prompting the Colombo Stock Exchange to halt trading twice. Janaka Ratnayake, Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, said the drawn-out power cuts were partly a result of the government’s inability to pay $52 million for a 37,000 tonne diesel shipment that is awaiting offloading. Swathes of Sri Lanka faced prolonged power cuts on Wednesday as a deepening economic crisis roiled markets and buffeted businesses, with the government unable to pay for fuel shipments because of a foreign exchange shortage, an official said.

Protesters in Sri Lanka clashed with the police outside the residence of President Rajapaksa in Mirihana. | World News.

Moreover, police have imposed a curfew in several areas in Colombo. It further added that they have spearheaded the protest calling for an Arab Spring in Sri Lanka. The statement further revealed the police has arrested several people who were involved in the protest and many of them were identified as organized extremists.

Unrest has been stoked by a foreign currency crunch, rolling blackouts and fuel shortages.

The island nation is seeing severe shortages of essentials, sharp price rises and crippling power cuts in its most painful downturn since independence in ...

An activist based in Mannar V S Sivakara told the Indian Epxress that the price of items such as rice has skyrocketed to Rs 300 per kilogram, while sugar is being sold for Rs 300. The economic disaster has caused untold suffering for the common Sri Lankan man. Before the war, Russians frequently made up the biggest share of Sri Lankan tourists, with Ukrainians not far behind. Simply paying interest on that large debt took up 72 per cent of government revenue in 2020, requiring the central bank to print more cash to avoid default, thus fuelling inflation. In 2019 as the coronavirus pandemic came knocking, Sri Lanka was already facing a downturn and staring at bankruptcy. The police has arrested 45 people for their alleged involvement in the protests, adding that five policemen were injured and several vehicles were set on fire.

The protesters blame Rajapaksa for long power outages and shortages of essentials. A police curfew that had been implemented in the suburbs of the capital was ...

Sri Lanka's government said the protesters' violent clashes with police outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's home were a threat to the revival of the ...

Police in Sri Lanka's largest city lifted a curfew on Friday after protests over an economic crisis in which dozens were arrested and several officers were ...

“We have arrested 54 people over the unrest last night. The International Monetary Fund will initiate discussions with Sri Lankan authorities on a possible loan program in coming days, a spokesman said on Thursday, as the government looks for a way out of the crisis. Hundreds of protesters gathered near Rajapaksa’s residence in a Colombo suburb late on Thursday before police dispersed them with tear gas and water cannons, a Reuters witness said.

Hundreds of protesters gathered near President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's private residence in Colombo. Police in Sri Lanka's capital have lifted a curfew after ...

Responding to the recent arrests and use of unlawful force by Sri Lankan authorities against protestors gathered outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's ...

A curfew was also imposed in an attempt to control the situation. “The Sri Lankan authorities must not use unnecessary or excessive force to disperse protesters who are suffering the consequences of an economic crisis that is spiraling out of control. On 31 March, crowds gathered outside the President’s residence to agitate against the escalating economic crisis in the country that is depriving residents of basic necessities, including essential medicines, food, cooking gas and electricity.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office blamed “organized extremists” within the group of protesters for violence during Thursday night's demonstration, where ...

Sri Lanka police fired tear gas and a water canon to disperse several hundred people protesting near the private residence of the country’s president. They set fire to one of the buses and turned back a fire truck that rushed to douse it. Sri Lanka police fired tear gas and a water canon to disperse several hundred people protesting near the private residence of the country’s president. A Sri Lankan man shouts anti government slogans during a protest outside Sri Lankan president's private residence on the outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Rohana said police followed the rules for riot control and took action only after the protest turned violent more than four hours after it started. A Sri Lankan man shouts anti government slogans during a protest outside Sri Lankan president's private residence on the outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, March 31, 2022.

Public anger over worsening crisis is directed towards the clan, which has held sway over nation's politics for decades.

He previously held the post in 2004, and was then president from 2005 to 2015. The community is barred from commemorating their war dead and remains largely marginalised. In a night of violence, one person was injured and at least 45 others were arrested. Namal Rajapaksa, 35, a lawyer, is the scion of the family dynasty and the eldest son of Mahinda, who is thought to be grooming him to be president one day. Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, is the charismatic head of the group and the current prime minister. Public anger over the worsening crisis is directed towards the clan, which has held sway over the island nation’s politics for decades.

Anger against Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's handling of a deepening economic crisis in the island nation of 22 million people spiralled into ...

A diesel shipment under a $500 million credit line signed with India in February is expected to arrive on Saturday. read more read more read more read more "Sri Lanka is a classic twin deficits economy," said a 2019 Asian Development Bank working paper. read more

Sri Lanka's president declared a state of emergency Friday giving sweeping powers to security forces a day after hundreds tried to storm his house in anger ...

"No more corruption, go home Gota," said another -- referring to the president. At least two protesters were wounded. Two government ministers said a major intelligence failure had placed the lives of the president and his wife in danger on Thursday. Protestors demonstrate against a surge in prices and shortage of fuel and other essential commodities in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, on April 1, 2022 The emergency was declared for "protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community," he said in a proclamation. Protestors demonstrate against a surge in prices and shortage of fuel and other essential commodities in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, on April 1, 2022

South Asia News: NEW DELHI: With street protests gripping Sri Lanka Friday, a day after hundreds tried to storm the president's home, the island nation ...

A police curfew that had been implemented in the suburbs of the capital was lifted Friday morning but the police and military presence was beefed up around the capital city, with the burnt-out wreckage of a bus still blocking the road to Rajapaksa's house. "Many of those involved in the incident have been arrested and many have been found to have been organised extremists," it added. Rajapaksa's office said Friday that the protesters wanted to create an "Arab Spring" — a reference to anti-government protests in response to corruption and economic stagnation that gripped the Middle East over a decade ago. The Sri Lankan government on Friday termed the violent demonstration near Rajapaksa's residence as "an act of terrorism" and blamed "extremist elements" linked to opposition parties for the incident. President Rajapaksa's office blamed “organised extremists” within the group of protesters for violence during Thursday night's demonstration, where police fired tear gas and a water cannon at hundreds of protesters, as a result dozens of people were injured. NEW DELHI: With street protests gripping Sri Lanka Friday, a day after hundreds tried to storm the president's home, the island nation declared a state of emergency.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa invokes tough laws amid protests over Sri Lanka's deepening economic crisis.

“A number of protests were organised by opposition parties, but unlike before, ordinary Sri Lankans with no political affiliations have taken to the streets. They have expressed the need to rescind the emergency regulations. Rajapaksa’s office said Friday that the protesters wanted to create an “Arab Spring” – a reference to anti-government protests in response to corruption and economic stagnation that gripped the Middle East more than 10 years ago. At least two protesters were wounded. Two government ministers said a major intelligence failure had placed the lives of the president and his wife in danger on Thursday. The emergency was declared for “protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community”, he said in a proclamation.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has declared a nationwide public emergency following violent protests over the country's worst...