Status: 09.07.2022 8:12 p.m
After violent protests, Sri Lanka’s President Rajapaksa announced his resignation. Tens of thousands of demonstrators had previously stormed his official residence and set fire to Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’s residence. He also offered to resign.
After ongoing mass protests in Sri Lanka, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced his resignation on July 13. This was announced by a parliamentary speaker. The President needs time to ensure an orderly transfer of power. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has only been in office since May, said he was ready to resign.
The protests against the government had previously escalated. The head of state had been taken to safety as a precaution, according to the president’s office. He was not in the palace in Colombo when tens of thousands of people demonstrated outside. They blamed Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe for the severe economic crisis in the country.
The media estimated the number of demonstrators at around 100,000. The police used tear gas against them, soldiers fired warning shots into the air, as was seen on television pictures. Nevertheless, numerous people managed to break through the barriers and storm the presidential palace.
Sri Lanka’s President Rajapaksa resigns after violent protests.
Image: AP
In the President’s pool
Photos and videos show demonstrators in the pool of the presidential palace. About an hour after the storm, demonstrators also broke into the nearby presidential office, reports said.
Demonstrators also set fire to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s residence, police said. However, he was not in the building.
Demonstrators entered the presidential palace – including the pool.
Image: AFP
There is a shortage of food, fuel and medicine
There have been regular protests in Sri Lanka for months, sometimes accompanied by violence. The country is in the midst of its worst economic crisis in decades. The 22 million inhabitants lack food, fuel and medicines.
The reasons for the economic crisis include a strong devaluation of the national currency, which made imports significantly more expensive. The population also accuses President Rajapaksa of mismanagement. In addition, the country is suffering from the slump in international tourism as a result of the corona pandemic.
The government under the new Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has announced reforms. But this could not calm the population, the displeasure grew in the past few weeks.
Premier Wickremesinghe is only recently in office and has now tendered his resignation.
Image: EPA
Famine crisis warning
The government has asked the International Monetary Fund and several countries, such as India, China and Russia, for help. The UN Emergency Relief Office (OCHA) warned in June that the severe economic crisis could exacerbate a looming hunger crisis in Sri Lanka. The country had previously been on a good development path for ten years and did not need UN humanitarian aid.
Mass anti-government protests escalated in May. There were dead and hundreds injured. The government of Mahnda Rajapaksa then resigned. The brother of the resigning head of government, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, remained in office.