Sri Lanka news

Sri Lanka has imposed a nationwide curfew as clashes erupted between government supporters and citizen protesters demanding the premier and his brother, ...

A central bank press conference scheduled for Monday afternoon was also canceled after the curfew was imposed in Colombo. Local news reports also said the military was called out in Colombo to quell the violence. Similar scenes played out in front of the city’s waterfront promenade where for weeks citizens have lined up peacefully to demand the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The move came as police imposed a nationwide curfew in response to violence in the commercial capital, Colombo, where supporters of the ruling party stormed a ...

The economic situation in Sri Lanka remains dire, with the country virtually bankrupt. Gotabaya Rajapaksa tweeted: “Strongly condemn the violent acts taking place by those inciting & participating, irrespective of political allegiances. Army and paramilitary troops were deployed to the site and a curfew was declared in the area. The resignation of Mahinda Rajapaksa means the government will be dissolved. Other members of the Rajapaksa family who had previously held seats in the cabinet have also stepped down, with the president the only remaining member of the political family still in power. Monday marked a violent shift in the demonstrations.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has quit after a day of violence saw three people including an MP killed.

On Friday, Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency, which empowers him to authorise detentions, property seizure and search of any premises. At the end of the week, they will launch a huge march to parliament, demanding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s removal and a new government. Its economic woes have brought on a political crisis, with the government facing widespread protests and a no-confidence motion in parliament. As oil prices soar during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sri Lanka’s fuel stocks are running out. adding that more than 1,000 unions representing health, ports, education, and other key service sectors have joined the movement. The attack on protesters came a day after Rajapaksa was heckled during his first public outing since nationwide protests erupted. “Mahinda Rajapaksa addressed that group, saying he will do what is best for the public interest. Officials said the army riot squad was called in to reinforce police. Its total foreign debt is $51bn. Protesters have crowded the streets since March, maintaining that Rajapaksa and his family – who have dominated nearly every aspect of life in Sri Lanka for most of the last 20 years – are responsible for the crisis. The supporters then initially pulled down tents of protesters in front of the prime minister’s Temple Trees residence and torched anti-government banners and placards. Rajapaksa had addressed some 3,000 supporters at his house and pledged he would “protect the interests of the nation.”

Colombo | Government supporters on Monday attacked protesters who have been camped outside the office of Sri Lanka's prime minster, as trade unions began a ...

Protesters at the president’s office have been demanding that the president, his older brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and other powerful Rajapaksa family members quit. On Friday, President Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency, which empowers him to authorise detentions, property seizure and search of any premises. Diplomats and rights groups have expressed concern over the move. At the end of the week, they will launch a huge march up to parliament, demanding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s removal and a new government. Its economic woes have brought on a political crisis, with the government facing widespread protests and a no-confidence motion in parliament. For several months, Sri Lankans have endured long lines to buy fuel, cooking gas, food and medicine, most of which come from abroad.

Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on Monday, following weeks of protests against his government.

Dozens of paramilitary troops with riot shields and helmets were deployed to keep both groups apart after the initial clashes. "Strongly condemn the violent acts taking place by those inciting & participating, irrespective of political allegiances," President Rajapaksa said in a tweet. We are struggling to keep our businesses afloat." Armed troops have been deployed in Colombo, according to CNN team on the ground. "A few moments ago, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa sent his letter of resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa," the statement said. A nationwide curfew was imposed after clashes broke out between supporters of the ruling party and anti-government demonstrators in the capital city Colombo, the police said Monday. The restrictions were announced shortly before Rajapaksa announced his resignation.

Sri Lanka's prime minister has resigned, hours after clashes with pro and anti-government demonstrators in the commercial capital...

"Strongly condemn the violent acts taking place by those inciting & participating, irrespective of political allegiances," President Rajapaksa said in a tweet. Dozens of paramilitary troops with riot shields and helmets were deployed to keep both groups apart after the initial clashes. "We are helpless now, we are begging for help," Senanayaka said, as black smoke spiralled out of a burning tent nearby and parts of the protest camp lay in disarray. In the letter, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, the prime minister said he was quitting to help form an interim, unity government. His departure came during a day of chaos and violence which culminated in police imposing a curfew across the country. "A few moments ago, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa sent his letter of resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa," the statement said.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has tendered his resignation amid an economic crisis and violent protests against he and his brother, ...

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Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's resignation came hours after clashes broke out in Colombo, where supporters of the ruling party stormed an anti-government ...

Pro-government supporters, some armed with iron bars, attacked anti-government demonstrators at the “Gota Go Gama” tent village that sprang up last month and became the focal point of protests. “The Rajapaksa regime is corrupt,” Silva said, clasping a flag with both hands. “The president will meet with independent and opposition political parties and we expect a new government in the next few days.” “Now the president will invite other political parties to form a unity government,” he told Reuters. “Multiple stakeholders have indicated the best solution to the present crisis is the formation of an interim all-party government,” the letter said. At least three others were wounded and the area remained tense with dozens of protesters still at the location, the source said.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has tendered his resignation amid an economic crisis and violent protests against he and his brother, ...

The prime minister's resignation also came hours after some of his supporters attacked peaceful protesters who had been camped out in front of government offices. He previously served as president for a decade, and prime minister twice. Despite the curfew, protesters rallied late into the night at Colombo's Galle Face seafront, cheering Mahinda Rajapaksa's resignation and calling for his brother Gotabaya to do the same. But President Gotabaya Rajapaksa remains in power, and has repeatedly refused to step down. The Rajapaksa brothers have been the focus of nationwide protests for several weeks. Local media published an undated copy of what's purported to be his resignation letter.

Sri Lanka's prime minister has resigned, hours after clashes with pro and anti-government demonstrators in the commercial capital...

"Strongly condemn the violent acts taking place by those inciting & participating, irrespective of political allegiances," President Rajapaksa said in a tweet. Dozens of paramilitary troops with riot shields and helmets were deployed to keep both groups apart after the initial clashes. "We are helpless now, we are begging for help," Senanayaka said, as black smoke spiralled out of a burning tent nearby and parts of the protest camp lay in disarray. In the letter, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, the prime minister said he was quitting to help form an interim, unity government. His departure came during a day of chaos and violence which culminated in police imposing a curfew across the country. "A few moments ago, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa sent his letter of resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa," the statement said.

Colombo, Sri Lanka – With the resignation of Sri Lanka's prime minister and former two-time executive president Mahinda Rajapksa in Colombo on Monday, ...

The public however, has risen sharply against this approach and intensified their calls for the resignation of both the president and prime minister. On May 3, a no-trust motion was submitted in parliament against the Rajapaksa administration. He was defeated in 1977 when the United National Party recorded a landslide victory and returned to parliament in 1989. Large-scale corruption allegations were also leveled against the regime in military purchases during the years of civil war that ended in 2009. Mounting criticism against the government had intensified calls for the collective resignations of all Rajapaksas. But violence erupted in Colombo on Monday when a group of Rajapaksa loyalists attacked protesters camped outside his official residence, Temple Trees, in Colombo. At least three people were killed as violence erupted across the Indian Ocean island.

Supporters of the ruling party and protesters clashed before PM Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned. Sri Lanka's prime minister has resigned to make way for a unity ...

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Key points: Protesters are calling for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, known as Gota; Government politician Amarakeerthi Athukorala has died ...

"Strongly condemn the violent acts taking place by those inciting and participating, irrespective of political allegiances," President Rajapaksa said in a tweet. Local media reported as many as 150 were injured throughout the day. The Prime Minister's departure came during a day of chaos and violence, with pro- and anti-government protesters clashing for the first time since the unprecedented wave of demonstrations took hold in late March. "The President will meet with independent and opposition political parties and we expect a new government in the next few days." A nationwide curfew has been imposed, on top of the state of emergency that Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa — the Prime Minister's younger brother, referred to as Gota — declared last week in the face of escalating protests. Sri Lanka's Prime Minister has resigned to make way for a unity government that would try to find a way out of the country's worst economic crisis in history, but protesters say they also want his brother to stand down as President.