Sri Lanka

2022 - 7 - 9

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What to know about the upheaval in Sri Lanka (The Washington Post)

Sri Lanka's president is set to resign after demonstrators stormed his home and office Saturday to protest the government's handling of a dire economic ...

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Protests force Sri Lanka's president, prime minister to resign (Vox)

Entrenched corruption and a political dynasty may keep them in power, though.

Additionally, t he New York Times has reported incidents of state violence against protesters, with 42 people injured after run-ins with state security forces, and four journalists with a Sri Lankan television station attacked outside the prime minister’s residence by security forces. So I think it is very clear that it is a tried and tested, cynical tactic that is being presented as an excuse to remain.” While Both Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe have agreed to go following a decision by parliament urging them both to resign office effective immediately, they could delay in an attempt to hang on to power. Talks with the IMF last month, while apparently fruitful, failed to produce a plan to right the economy and put it on a stable path forward; political instability could potentially thwart continuing discussions. Wickremesinghe, who joined Rajapaksa’s administration in May after the previous prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa — a brother of the current president — resigned the post following violent protests over Sri Lanka’s dire economic circumstances. The current Rajapaksa administration failed to contain the fallout from recent crises and other long-brewing economic problems, which hampered the government’s ability to supplement its already-dwindling foreign currency reserves.

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Tras protestas, el presidente de Sri Lanka dice que dimitirá (Los Angeles Times)

El presidente de Sri Lanka acepta dimitir, anuncia el presidente del Parlamento, luego de que cientos de manifestantes irrumpieron en la residencia y la ...

Colombo anunció en abril que suspendería los pagos de deudas internacionales debido a falta de divisas. Ante la escasez de recursos, muchos abarrotaron trenes y autobuses para llegar a las protestas, mientras que otros arribaron en bicicletas y a pie. El hermano mayor del presidente renunció en mayo a su cargo de primer ministro tras protestas violentas que le hicieron buscar refugio en una base naval. El mes pasado, Wickremesinghe admitió que la economía del país había colapsado. En la mayor protesta hasta la fecha en Sri Lanka, miles de personas rompieron barricadas y entraron en la residencia del presidente Rajapaksa y su oficina cercana. Algunos hicieron “declaraciones” desde una sala de conferencias, afirmando que Rajapaksa y Wickremesinghe debían abandonar sus cargos de inmediato.

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3 cosas que debes saber sobre la crisis económica y política que ... (BBC Mundo)

Manifestantes asaltaron las residencias del presidente y el primer ministro, que se vieron obligados a renunciar.

El presidente dijo que renunciará el 13 de julio. Yo he visto al presidente Rajapaksa en la cima de su poder. Más tarde, incendiaron la residencia privada del primer ministro. Nadie, incluidos los periodistas, hubiera querido ver uno de sus momentos de furia. Miles de personas tomaron el palacio presidencial en Colombo, exigiendo la renuncia del primer ministro y el presidente. Algunos han estado cantando y tocando instrumentos musicales, celebrando. Sri Lanka: el presidente anuncia su renuncia tras la ola de protestas que condujo a la toma del palacio presidencial El gobierno atribuye la crisis a la pandemia del coronavirus, que afectó la industria turística de Sri Lanka, una de sus principales fuentes de ingreso de divisas. En mayo, por primera vez en su historia, el país incumplió el pago de la cuota de su deuda exterior. Otros estaban vaciando los cajones. Esto llevó a que las escuelas de Sri Lanka tuvieran que cerrar, y a que las autoridades pidieran a los 22 millones de habitantes de la nación que trabajaran desde casa. Otros videos que se publicaron en las redes sociales mostraban personas merodeando alrededor de la residencia presidencial y a algunos, nadando en la piscina.

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El presidente de Sri Lanka huye de su residencia invadida y hace ... (swissinfo.ch)

Los manifestantes también atacaron e incendiaron la residencia privada del primer ministro, Ranil Wickremesinghe. Por la noche, el presidente del Parlamento ...

El viernes, las fuerzas del orden impusieron un toque de queda en un intento de disuadir a los manifestantes de salir a la calle. Según economistas, el colapso se debe a la pandemia de covid-19, que privó a la isla de las divisas del sector turístico y se vio agravada por malas decisiones políticas. Las redes sociales mostraron imágenes de los invasores deambulando por los salones del edificio de la época colonial británica y a algunos refrescándose en la piscina del lugar.

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Sri Lanka police fire tear gas at anti-government protesters (ABC News)

Sri Lankan police have fired tear gas at protesters demanding that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his government resign over the island nation's worst ...

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Sri Lankan demonstrators enter president's residence amid ... (NPR)

Thousands of people demonstrated in the capital against the island nation's worst economic crisis in recent memory and demanded President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ...

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Live updates: Turmoil in Sri Lanka as thousands protest (CNN)

Protesters have stormed the presidential residence in Sri Lanka as thousands take to the streets over the president's handling of the country's economic ...

Video broadcast on Sri Lankan television and on social media showed the protesters enter President's House — Rajapaksa's office and residence in the commercial capital — after breaking through security cordons placed by police. Protesters then also breached Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's official residence, known as Temple Trees, according to local media reports, while video of protesters entering the gates to Wickremesinghe's residence circulated on social media on Saturday. Some background: Anger reached unprecedented levels in the South Asian nation of 22 million on Saturday, as more than 100,000 people amassed outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence, calling for his resignation.

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Sri Lanka Live Updates: President Asked to Step Down (The New York Times)

The request came as protesters entered his residence and office, and thousands ​more ​descended on the capital to register their fury over his government's ...

“All the systems in Sri Lanka have come to a standstill now. When coronavirus restrictions dried up the flow of tourism dollars and the debt piled up to unsustainable levels, leaders showed little urgency in finding solutions or seeking help. Mr. Wijewardena, the economist, said the country’s leaders had to look inward to solve its problems. The cricket stadium, also constructed on the family’s orders, has had only a few international matches and is so remote that arriving teams face the risk of wildlife attacks. The daily reality of people’s lives has grown only harsher in recent weeks, with shortages of fuel and essential medicine. As the island nation struggles to contain a worsening economic crisis, many residents say they are feeling the effects deeply. The clashes unleashed a wave of violence and vandalism across the country, raising fears that the country could break into outright anarchy. He appointed a new prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has tried to raise financial aid from allied countries and work with the International Monetary Fund to restructure the country’s immense foreign debt. But many of its underlying causes have remained, with the Rajapaksa family continuing to cater to the majority Buddhist Sinhalese. But the protests continued. “I came here today to send the president home,” said Wasantha Kiruwaththuduwa, 50, who had walked 10 miles to join the protest. That conflict, between the government and the Tamil Tiger insurgents who had taken up the cause of discrimination against the ethnic minority Tamils, ended in 2009.

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Sri Lankan PM agrees to quit amid political turmoil (Politico)

The prime minister's spokesperson, Dinouk Colambage, said Wickremesinghe told party leaders that he will resign when all parties have agreed on forming a ...

“His claim that he was voted in by the Sinhala Buddhists is not valid now,” said Ven. Omalpe Sobitha, a prominent Buddhist leader. In April, Sri Lanka announced it is suspending repaying foreign loans due to a foreign currency shortage. Last month, Wickremesinghe said the country’s economy has collapsed. Thousands of protesters entered the capital from the suburbs after police lifted an overnight curfew. At least 34 people including two police officers were wounded in scuffles as protesters tried to enter the residence. The president’s older brother resigned as prime minister in May after violent protests saw him seek safety at a naval base.

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Cómo China empujó a Sri Lanka al colapso (infobae América)

El caso es un ejemplo de la trampa de la deuda a la que el régimen de Xi Jinping somete a varios países del mundo.

La banda, conformada por miembros de tres familias, usó más de 400 mujeres para robar dinero. Pero en 2017, Colombo fue incapaz de pagar su deuda de 1.400 millones de dólares contraída con Pekín para la construcción del puerto en aguas profundas de Hambantota. “Teníamos mucha esperanza cuando se anunciaron los proyectos. La isla, de 22 millones de habitantes, se endeudó de forma masiva para superar años de déficits presupuestarios y comerciales. Los impactantes videos de la toma de la residencia del Presidente de Sri Lanka: usaron la piscina y se acostaron en su cama Nuestros hijos también continuarán pagando esta deuda”. Desde hace meses, la población padece una grave escasez de alimentos, combustible y medicamentos y culpa al presidente Gotabaya Rajapaksa de esta histórica crisis.

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Protesters storm Sri Lanka's presidential palace, demand president ... (Axios)

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was not at his residency when the protesters broke in.

A member of the far-right Oath Keepers militia brought explosives to Washington, D.C. ahead of the Jan. 6 deadly insurrection, according to court documents from the Justice Department. The big picture: Retired Lt. Gen. Gary Volesky, the Army's former top spokesman, responded to a tweet from Biden that said the rights of women had been stolen in the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Driving the news: Protesters had gathered outside of the restaurant and called Morton's manager to have the justice, who joined the Supreme Court's majority opinion overturning Roe v. - Thousands of people have traveled to the country's capital to join the protests, which have been ongoing for months. - The country is facing major food and medicine shortages, which doctors in the country said in May could lead to deaths,Al Jazeerareports. By the numbers: At least 31 people have been injured in the protests, per CNN, which cited the National Hospital of Sri Lanka.

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Socialismo fracasa en Sri Lanka y huye gobernante del país (Diario LAs Americas)

A dos días del aniversario del 11J en Cuba, el sistema socialista de Sri Lanka se desploma. Rajapaksa se había reunido hace meses con el embajador cubano.

Y varios centenares forzaron la entrada del palacio presidencial y obligaron a Rajapaksa a abandonar precipitadamente el lugar. Por la noche, el presidente del Parlamento anunció por televisión que, "para garantizar una transición pacífica, el presidente [Rajapaksa] dijo que presentaría su renuncia el 13 de julio". El viernes, las fuerzas del orden impusieron un toque de queda en un intento de disuadir a los manifestantes de salir a la calle. Las redes sociales mostraron imágenes de los invasores deambulando por los salones del edificio de la época colonial británica y a algunos refrescándose en la piscina del lugar. Rajapaksa se había reunido hace meses con el embajador cubano Colombo, Sri Lanka— El presidente de Sri Lanka hizo saber este sábado que renunciará el próximo miércoles, poco después de que una multitud enardecida lo obligara a huir de su residencia, llevando a su paroxismo la crisis desencadenada por el hundimiento económico del país.

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Sri Lanka protesters break into President's House as thousands rally ... (CNN)

Protesters broke into the Sri Lankan leader's official residence in Colombo on Saturday as more than 100000 amassed outside, according to police, ...

Schools have been suspended and fuel has been limited to essential services. A police curfew that was earlier imposed in several police divisions in the Western Province of Sri Lanka was lifted on Saturday. Several politicians and the Bar Association in Sri Lanka referred to the curfew as being "illegal," saying there had been no instances of violence to justify imposing the measure. At least 31 people, including two police officers, have been injured in the protests and are receiving treatment, according to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL). Two of the injured are in critical condition, according to police.

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Sri Lankan prime minister resigns; protesters storm president's home (The Washington Post)

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, whose family many hold responsible for the worst economic crisis in decades, was moved to safety ahead of the ...

A new prime minister and cabinet were sworn in but as the economic situation worsens, anger is beginning to spill over again. Wickremesinghe told parliament recently the country was “bankrupt.” Asking the president to step down he said, “The siege is over. But the country was struggling in the negotiations. Earlier in the day, thousands of people carrying the yellow and red Sri Lankan flag marched toward the president’s home chanting “Gota, go home.” The police fired tear gas to deter the surging crowds. “We are desperate,” said Himantha Wickremerathne, a 34-year-old lawyer who joined the protests.

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Manifestantes en Sri Lanka irrumpen en la casa del presidente (CNN)

Manifestantes irrumpieron en la residencia oficial del líder de Sri Lanka en Colombo este sábado, cuando más de 100.000 personas se congregaron afuera, ...

Está separado de la residencia oficial, llamada Temple Trees. Las escuelas han sido suspendidas y el combustible se ha limitado a los servicios esenciales. Los manifestantes irrumpieron en la residencia privada del primer ministro de Sri Lanka, y le prendieron fuego, según la oficina del primer ministro. La decisión se produce después de que una reunión de líderes del partido, celebrada por el presidente del parlamento de Sri Lanka, acordó pedirle al presidente y al primer ministro que renuncien por una "solicitud abrumadora", tuiteó el diputado de Sri Lanka Rauff Hakeem el sábado. El primer ministro de Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, dice que está dispuesto a renunciar y dar paso a un gobierno de todos los partidos, dijo el sábado la oficina del mandatario. Un video difundido en la televisión de Sri Lanka y en las redes sociales mostró a los manifestantes ingresar a la Casa del Presidente, la oficina y residencia de Rajapaksa en la capital comercial, después de romper los cordones de seguridad colocados por la policía.

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Sri Lanka: Manifestantes asaltan casa y oficina presidencial (San Diego Union-Tribune en Español)

Manifestantes que reclaman la renuncia del presidente de Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, se abren paso hasta su residencia oficial y su oficina.

Colombo anunció en abril que suspendería los pagos de deudas internacionales debido a falta de divisas. Wickremesinghe accedió el sábado a dimitir después de que los líderes de los partidos en el Parlamento le exigieran a él y al asediado presidente que abandonaran sus cargos. Ante la escasez de recursos, muchos abarrotaron trenes y autobuses para llegar a las protestas, mientras que otros arribaron en bicicletas y a pie. “Su afirmación de que fue votado por los budistas de Sinhala ya no es válida”, dijo Omalpe Sobitha, un destacado líder budista. El hermano mayor del presidente renunció en mayo a su cargo de primer ministro tras protestas violentas que le hicieron buscar refugio en una base naval. La oficina del primer ministro Ranil Wickremesinghe dijo que los manifestantes forzaron la entrada a su residencia el sábado por la noche.

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Protesters storm Sri Lankan president's house, office amid economic ... (PBS NewsHour)

Leaders of political parties in Parliament met after the storming of the president's residence and decided to request Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil ...

They said that the protesters should have access to governance as a pressure group. “His claim that he was voted in by the Sinhala Buddhists is not valid now,” said Ven. Omalpe Sobitha, a prominent Buddhist leader. At least 34 people including two police officers were wounded in scuffles as protesters tried to enter the residence. Thousands of protesters entered the capital from the suburbs earlier on Saturday after police lifted an overnight curfew. On Saturday, as droves of people broke through barriers to occupy the president’s residence, hundreds of protesters, some carrying national flags, also stormed his seaside office in another nearby building. A new prime minister, Wickremesinghe, took over in May to help steer the country out of the crisis.

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Manifestantes toman el palacio presidencial en Sri Lanka y queman ... (BBC Mundo)

Miles de personas irrumpieron en el palacio presidencial en la ciudad de Colombo, exigiendo la renuncia del primer ministro y el presidente.

Armados con banderas y pancartas, los manifestantes enfurecidos por el manejo del presidente Gotabaya Rajapaksa de la peor crisis económica en décadas, forzaron su paso ignorando a las fuerzas de seguridad. El hecho ocurrió pocas horas después de que miles de manifestantes ocuparan la residencia oficial del presidente, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, en la capital del país, Colombo. Sri Lanka: el presidente anuncia su renuncia tras la ola de protestas que condujo a la toma del palacio presidencial

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Los impactantes videos de la toma de la residencia del Presidente ... (infobae América)

Miles de manifestantes asaltaron la mansión instantes después de que Gotabaya Rajapaksa huyera.

En un intento por contener las protestas, el presidente presionó a su hermano y primer ministro, Mahinda Rajapaksa, para que renunciara al cargo junto al resto de su gobierno. Sri Lanka es un ejemplo de la “trampa de deuda” a la que China está sometiendo a varios países del mundo, sobre todo los africanos, obligados según ellos a efectuar exageradas concesiones comerciales o diplomáticas para retrasar las devoluciones. La nación necesita además unos 6.000 millones de dólares en ayuda del Fondo Monetario Internacional (FMI) y de países como India y China para salir adelante durante los próximos seis meses, según el primer ministro. La asociación del Colegio de Abogados de Sri Lanka, una de las organizaciones civiles más destacadas del país, ha pedido al presidente que comience a considerar la posibilidad de dimitir. Asimismo, el comité ejecutivo de la asociación exige al primer ministro del país así como a su Consejo de Ministros y al Parlamento que tomen medidas inmediatas para garantizar la estabilidad política del país. La principal oposición del país, Poder del Pueblo Unido (SJB), que no reconoce al primer ministro, ha avisado que no participará en la reunión y exigido la dimisión tanto del presidente como del jefe del Gobierno.

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Manifestantes asaltan la residencia presidencial en Sri Lanka (teleSUR TV)

Uno de los principales reclamos de la población es la dimisión del mandatario Gotabaya Rajapaksa y del primer ministro, Ranil Wickremesinghe. | Foto: EFE.

��Breaking: Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flees after he declared the nation as total bankrupt. Al conocer que el presidente había huido de la casa presidencial, el Ministerio de Defensa comunicó que Gotabaya Rajapaksa, seguía al frente del país y se encontraba en un lugar secreto protegido por el ejército. El Ministerio de Defensa comunicó que Gotabaya Rajapaksa se encontraba en un lugar secreto protegido por el ejército.

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Miles irrumpen en la casa presidencial de Sri Lanka en protestas ... (FRANCE 24)

Miles de manifestantes en Colombo, Sri Lanka, irrumpieron este sábado 9 de julio en la residencia oficial del presidente Gotabaya Rajapaksa y en la sede del ...

La crisis se ha profundizado tras la pandemia de Covid-19 que golpeó a la la nación fuertemente dependiente del turismo. "Le hemos dicho a Gota una y otra vez que se vaya a casa, pero todavía se aferra al poder. Ante lo ocurrido, el primer ministro Ranil Wickremesinghe convocó a una reunión de líderes del partido de emergencia para discutir la situación y llegar a una solución rápida, informó su oficina mediante un comunicado. Los incidentes se registraron en medio de meses de creciente ira por la peor crisis económica del país en siete décadas. No obstante, miles de personas abrieron las puertas de la Secretaría Presidencial frente al mar y también irrumpieron en la sede del Ministerio de Finanzas, que ha sido el sitio de concentración de la manifestación durante meses. Miles de manifestantes en Colombo irrumpieron en la residencia oficial del presidente Gotabaya Rajapaksa, en la sede del ministerio de Finanzas y prendieron fuego a la residencia del primer ministro.

Manifestantes en Sri Lanka irrumpen en la casa del presidente - KESQ (KESQ)

Sol Amaya. (CNN) — Manifestantes irrumpieron en la residencia oficial del líder de Sri Lanka en Colombo este sábado, cuando más de 100.000 personas se ...

El anuncio se produjo después de una solicitud de Abeywardena pidiendo la renuncia del presidente luego de una reunión de líderes del partido. Está separado de la residencia oficial, llamada Temple Trees. El primer ministro de Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, también dijo que está dispuesto a renunciar. Las escuelas han sido suspendidas y el combustible se ha limitado a los servicios esenciales. Los manifestantes irrumpieron en la residencia privada del primer ministro de Sri Lanka, y le prendieron fuego, según la oficina del primer ministro. (CNN) — El presidente de Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, dijo que renunciará la próxima semana, según el presidente del Parlamento de Sri Lanka, cuando estallaron las protestas el sábado y los manifestantes irrumpieron en las residencias oficiales del presidente y el primer ministro.

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Sri Lanka Latest: President, PM to Resign After Chaotic Protests (Bloomberg)

Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will resign after angry protesters stormed their homes, giving into popular ...

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Live Updates: Sri Lanka in Turmoil As Protests Grow (The New York Times)

The speaker of Parliament says President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has agreed to resign, but the president has not been seen since protesters stormed the official ...

Mr. Wijewardena said that in the days to come, Sri Lankans would have to sacrifice modern comforts. The South Asian nation has run out of foreign currency to pay for fuel, bringing its economy grinding to a halt. The country is still in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to restructure billions of dollars in foreign debt, on which it has defaulted. As the country’s economy appeared to be headed for a crash, he made his brother Basil Rajapaksa the minister of finance last July. The situation has grown so desperate that Sri Lanka has asked President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia for a credit line to buy fuel. Officials have said that many of its traditional fuel suppliers are reluctant to sell to the country, as the state oil company is mired in debt it is struggling to pay off. Mr. Abeywardena, in a televised statement, said the president had informed him he would resign on July 13, “to ensure a peaceful transition of power.” Officials at the Defense Ministry and in the army did not immediately respond to questions about Mr. Rajapaksa’s location. By the evening, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who took office only in May and was also facing demands to resign, said he would step down, saying he had “the safety of all citizens” in mind. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the parliamentary speaker and an ally of the president, announced the development at the end of a chaotic day. In the official residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who had fled to an unknown location the day before, the protesters swam in the clear blue water of an outdoor pool, while others crowded around the edges. The president, he said, will resign on Wednesday “to ensure a peaceful transition of power.”

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Oposición en Sri Lanka aspira a instalar un nuevo gobierno (San Diego Union-Tribune en Español)

Los manifestantes que asaltaron el sábado la residencia oficial del presidente, su oficina y la residencia oficial del primer ministro pasaron la noche allí, y ...

Algunos hicieron té o utilizaron el gimnasio, mientras que otros hicieron declaraciones desde una sala de conferencias para exigir la salida del presidente y el primer ministro. Sri Lanka anunció en abril la suspensión del pago de préstamos extranjeros debido a la escasez de divisas. El primer ministro, Ranil Wickremesinghe, dijo que abandonaría el cargo cuando hubiera un nuevo gobierno. Los manifestantes irrumpieron más tarde en la residencia privada del primer ministro y le prendieron fuego, según la oficina de Wickremesinghe. No estaba claro si el funcionario estaba allí cuando se produjo la incursión, y no fue posible contactar con el vocero del primer ministro para pedir comentarios. Horas más tarde, el presidente del Parlamento indicó que Rajapaksa renunciaría el miércoles. La presión sobre los dos iba en aumento en medio de un colapso económico que provocó un grave desabastecimiento de productos esenciales. Los manifestantes que asaltaron el sábado la residencia oficial del presidente, su oficina y la residencia oficial del primer ministro pasaron la noche allí, y dijeron que se quedarían hasta que los dos dimitieran oficialmente.

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Sri Lanka opposition hopes to install new gov't amid turmoil (ABC News)

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lanka's opposition political parties will meet Sunday to agree on a new government a day after the country's president and prime ...

Protesters later broke into the prime minister’s private residence and set it on fire, Wickremesinghe’s office said. The president’s older brother resigned as prime minister in May after violent protests saw him seek safety at a naval base. Video and pictures showed jubilant crowds splashing in the garden pool, lying on beds and using their cellphone cameras to capture the moment.

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Calm in Sri Lanka as president, premier to quit over economic collapse (Reuters)

Calm returned to the streets of Sri Lanka's commercial capital Colombo on Sunday and protesters were jubilant as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa agreed to ...

The speaker had outlined proposals from a meeting of political parties on Saturday that would include parliament picking an acting president within a week. Some took selfies of the polished interiors, a striking contrast to the misery many have endured. The fertiliser ban was reversed in November. Others set fire to the private home of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who also agreed to resign to make way for an all-party government. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

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As Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa agrees to step down, singing on streets ... (CNN)

Sri Lanka woke on Sunday to an uncertain future, with both its President and Prime Minister set to step down after thousands of protesters stormed their ...

If both Wickremesinghe and Rajapaksa resign, under the Sri Lankan constitution, the speaker of parliament will serve as acting president for a maximum of 30 days. Fellow journalists who rushed to their aid were then also attacked, Newsfirst reported. Two of the journalists from the Sri Lankan TV channel Newsfirst had their cameras rolling at the time. Among those injured is a lawmaker from eastern Sri Lanka, she added. Protesters also targeted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, setting on fire his private residence on Fifth Lane, an affluent neighborhood in the capital. Images show demonstrators inside the whitewashed colonial-era building and hanging banners from the balcony.

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Sri Lanka opposition hopes to install new government amid turmoil (CNBC)

If both president and prime minister resign, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena will take over as temporary president, according to the constitution.

Protesters later broke into the prime minister's private residence and set it on fire, Wickremesinghe's office said. Video and pictures showed jubilant crowds splashing in the garden pool, lying on beds and using their cellphone cameras to capture the moment. Thousands of protesters entered the capital Colombo on Saturday and swarmed into Rajapaksa's fortified residence.

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EXPLAINER: Why Sri Lanka's economy collapsed and what's next (ABC News)

Sri Lanka's departing prime minister says the island nation's debt-laden economy has “collapsed” as it runs out of money to pay for food and fuel.

——— Earlier in June, the United Nations launched a worldwide public appeal for assistance. ——— The prime minister appeared to be underscoring the challenges facing his government as it seeks help from the IMF and confronts criticism over the lack of improvement since he took office weeks earlier. ——— The government needed to boost its revenues as foreign debt for big infrastructure projects soared, but instead Rajapaksa pushed through the largest tax cuts in Sri Lankan history. ——— Tropical Sri Lanka normally is not lacking for food, but people are going hungry. ——— ——— Sri Lankans are skipping meals as they endure shortages and lining up for hours to try to buy scarce fuel. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lanka’s prime minister said late last month that the island nation’s debt-laden economy had “collapsed” as it runs out of money to pay for food and fuel.

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Sri Lanka's president and prime minister offer to step down, but ... (The Washington Post)

Protesters stormed the home of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and set Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's home ablaze over the country's economic collapse.

“My demand is that we have honest and educated people appointed from the present parliament to take us out of this immediate mess.” Visuals from local media showed a stream of visitors walking through an imposing stairway at the president’s home. Announcements were made to not steal or harm the property. Aid groups say nearly a quarter of the country’s 22 million residents are in need of food assistance. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in a tweet, said President Rajapaksa had lost the confidence of the Sri Lankan people. “It was the might of the people on show,” he said. Namal Ratnayake, 40, was part of the protesting crowd that marched toward the president’s office. Ganeshan Wignaraja, an economist at ODI, a U.K.-based global affairs think tank who has been involved in the IMF discussions described the economic situation as “hugely challenging.” In May, similar large-scale protests led to the resignation of Rajapaksa’s older brother Mahinda as prime minister and other family members. The anger over continued economic distress spilled over again, this time in greater force. He had moved out of his home a day ahead of the protests, and his whereabouts remain unknown. On Saturday, angry crowds stormed the presidential residence and office, and celebrated their victory by diving into the swimming pool and lounging on his bed.

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What's Happening in Sri Lanka? What to Know About the Protests ... (The Wall Street Journal)

Public anger over the country's economic crisis has forced the president and prime minister to agree to resign · Demonstrators in Colombo. · Protesters swimming ...

You may cancel your subscription at anytime by calling Customer Service. Monthslong antigovernment demonstrations took a dramatic turn on July 9, when police were unable to hold back large crowds of protesters who stormed and occupied the official residences of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Protesters also set fire to Mr. Wickremesinghe’s private home. Sri Lanka’s sovereign-debt crisis has crippled its economy and sparked months of political turmoil and public unrest.

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Explainer: How Sri Lanka spiralled into crisis (Reuters)

COLOMBO, July 10 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's economic crisis looks to have finally toppled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa has not commented directly ...

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The crisis has crippled Sri Lanka, once seen as a model for a developing economy. Months later, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Fuel shortages have led to long queues at filling stations as well as frequent blackouts, and hospitals have run short of medicine. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

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Sri Lanka opposition hopes to install new gov't amid turmoil (WJCT NEWS)

Sri Lanka's opposition political parties will meet Sunday to agree on a new government a day after the country's president and prime minister offered to ...

The government must submit a plan on debt sustainability to the IMF in August before reaching an agreement. Its total foreign debt amounts to $51 billion, of which it must repay $28 billion by the end of 2027. He later moved into a house in Colombo. Thousands of protesters entered the capital Colombo on Saturday and swarmed into Rajapaksa's fortified residence. Rajapaksa appeared to have vacated his residence before it was stormed, and government spokesperson Mohan Samaranayake said he had no information about his movements. Protesters remained in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's home, his seaside office and the prime minister's residence, saying they will stay until they officially resign.

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Image courtesy of "WBFO"

Sri Lanka opposition hopes to install new gov't amid turmoil (WBFO)

Sri Lanka's opposition political parties will meet Sunday to agree on a new government a day after the country's president and prime minister offered to ...

The government must submit a plan on debt sustainability to the IMF in August before reaching an agreement. Its total foreign debt amounts to $51 billion, of which it must repay $28 billion by the end of 2027. He later moved into a house in Colombo. Thousands of protesters entered the capital Colombo on Saturday and swarmed into Rajapaksa's fortified residence. Rajapaksa appeared to have vacated his residence before it was stormed, and government spokesperson Mohan Samaranayake said he had no information about his movements. Protesters remained in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's home, his seaside office and the prime minister's residence, saying they will stay until they officially resign.

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Image courtesy of "infobae América"

Claves para entender qué está sucediendo en Sri Lanka (infobae América)

Las manifestaciones alcanzaron el sábado un pico, cuando miles de personas irrumpieron en edificios públicos, incluida la residencia presidencial, ...

Gotabaya respaldó la prohibición de los fertilizantes químicos que afectaron el rendimiento de los cultivos a medida que los precios de los alimentos se dispararon en todo el mundo. Los récords mundiales que se han registrado en los precios de los alimentos y la energía causados por la guerra en Ucrania han exacerbado la crisis. Las protestas nocturnas en la capital comenzaron en el mes de abril, con manifestantes pidiendo a los Rajapaksas que abandonaran la política. Algunas de esas manifestaciones se tornaron violentas. La inflación ha provocado que el hambre empeore desde entonces, con alrededor del 70% de los hogares de Sri Lanka informando en una encuesta de las Naciones Unidas que habían reducido su consumo de alimentos. La familia ha experimentado una caída dramática en los últimos meses mientras Sri Lanka enfrenta su peor crisis económica desde que obtuvo su independencia en 1948, cuando su nombre era Ceilán. A principios de este año, alimentos básicos como el arroz habían duplicado su precio con respecto al año anterior. Miles de manifestantes llegaron al palacio presidencial en Colombo, la capital, exigiendo la renuncia del presidente Gotabaya Rajapaksa, cuya familia es considerada responsable por muchos de los graves problemas económicos del país.

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Image courtesy of "Bloomberg"

Rajapaksa Finally Set to Exit After Months of Sri Lanka Protests (Bloomberg)

After months of persistent street protests over fuel shortages, surging prices and financial mismanagement, Sri Lankan leader Gotabaya Rajapaksa is finally ...

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Image courtesy of "El Tiempo Latino"

FOTOS | Lo que se sabe sobre lo que pasó en Sri Lanka (El Tiempo Latino)

Manifestantes en el interior de la residencia oficial del presidente durante la protesta contra el gobierno en Colombo, Sri Lanka, este sábado.

- Si tanto el presidente como el primer ministro dimiten, el presidente de la Cámara de Representantes, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, asumirá el cargo de presidente temporal, de acuerdo con la Constitución. - Los manifestantes también irrumpieron en la residencia privada del primer ministro y la incendiaron durante los disturbios del sábado. - Los ocupantes de la residencia oficial del primer ministro cocinaron en una cocina exterior, jugaron al carrom -un popular juego de mesa- y durmieron en sofás.

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Sri Lankan opposition parties plan unity government after president ... (The Guardian)

Prime minister as well as Rajapaksa will step down after months of protests culminated in attacks on their homes.

But it was not followed up by an official address or letter of resignation and on Sunday he still remained in hiding, reportedly under the protection of the military. President Rajapaksa had been facing months of sustained protests calling for him to step down from power but he had repeatedly refused. Wickremesinghe, whose private residence was set alight by protesters on Saturday, emphasised that the country was facing critical times and needed a stable government. Many of the protesters who have been demonstrating against President Rajapaksa are not supportive of many of the MPs, who they view as still part of the political establishment that caused Sri Lanka’s downfall. Soldiers were deployed around the city and the chief of defence staff, Shavendra Silva, called for public support to maintain law and order. The president’s whereabouts was unknown.

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Your Monday Briefing: Sri Lanka in Turmoil (The New York Times)

Good morning. We're covering the resignation of Sri Lanka's president, election results in Japan and Russia's bombardment of Donetsk, Ukraine.

Now, at least one has returned to the city’s streets, thanks to two pilots who pooled their savings to buy and restore the relic. “All my memories came back,” said one woman who used to ride hot dog buses in high school and who brought her 4-year-old son for the experience. Last week, Russia established a civilian administration and unveiled a new flag in border areas under its control — a sign, analysts said, that Moscow plans to annex the territory. “Back then, there was freedom, money and a whole lot of warmth,” Tong, 35, said. Russia has aggressively moved to take the entire Donbas region of Ukraine after seizing the Luhansk province last week. With inflation pressures mounting, the yen weakening, the war in Ukraine heightening fears of energy shortages and coronavirus infections rising, it could be a harder sell than ever. Maria Ressa, the Nobel Prize laureate, lost her appeal against a cyberlibel conviction and could face a lengthy prison sentence,The Guardian reports. It’s unclear what the next government will look like and what it can do immediately to address shortages of food, medicine, fuel and other essentials. But without him, the will to push revisions through a difficult parliamentary process could wane. Rajapaksa himself has not yet addressed the reports that he plans to resign later this week, and it’s unclear who is in charge. - Updates: To receive the latest updates in your inbox,sign up here. South Korea is known for its blazing broadband and innovative devices.

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Image courtesy of "ABC News"

Sri Lanka opposition meets to install new gov't amid turmoil (ABC News)

Sri Lanka's opposition political parties are meeting to install a new government a day after the president and prime minister offered to resign in the most ...

“If these kinds of incidents keep on going, we can wave bye-bye to the IMF and any international assistance that is going to come to the country. The government must submit a plan on debt sustainability to the IMF in August before reaching an agreement. Its total foreign debt amounts to $51 billion, of which it must repay $28 billion by the end of 2027. He later moved into a house in Colombo. Soldiers were deployed around the city and the chief of defense staff, Shavendra Silva, called for public support to maintain law and order. Protesters remained in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence, his seaside office and the prime minister’s home, saying they would stay until the resignations are official.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Sri Lanka protesters staying put until president, PM leave office (Aljazeera.com)

Thousands occupying the presidential palace are determined to stay until both the president and PM step down officially.

The economic crisis in Sri Lanka began earlier this year after the government suspended repayment of foreign loans due to a foreign currency shortage. Opposition parties were meeting in the capital on Sunday to agree on a new government. “Farmers are not being able to cultivate, fisherman have not been able to go to the sea … so support for regime change is island wide,” Kadirgamar said. Wickremesinghe had been part of crucial talks with the IMF for a bailout programme and with the World Food Programme to prepare for a predicted food crisis. Playwright Ruwanthie de Chickera told a news conference at the main protest site in Colombo: “The president has to resign, the prime minister has to resign and the government has to go”. Protesters in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo continue to occupy the offices of the president and prime minister for a second consecutive day, vowing they will stay put until both officially have resigned.

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Image courtesy of "FRANCE 24"

Continua la presión en Sri Lanka por la dimisión del presidente (FRANCE 24)

A las tentativas de renuncia del presidente del país y del primer ministro siguieron las dimisiones de varios ministros. La presión de los manifestantes que ...

Y de que la oficina del primer ministro, Ranil Wickremesinghe, señalara que el 'premier' se apartará de sus funciones una vez se haya formado un nuevo Gobierno. Los analistas consideran que es dudoso que un nuevo líder pueda hacer más de las gestiones impulsadas por el actual primer ministro. La agitación social y política continúa mientras se desconoce el paradero del presidente. En un esfuerzo por ahorrar el escaso combustible, la Administración de Rajapaksa ha pedido a la población que trabaje desde casa y ha cerrado las escuelas. El colapso financiero se desarrolló después de que la pandemia del Covid-19 golpeara la economía dependiente del turismo y redujera las remesas de los trabajadores en el extranjero. No obstante, no señaló cuándo podrían llegar a un acuerdo.

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Image courtesy of "Bloomberg"

People Power Has Brought Down Sri Lanka's Strongman. What Now? (Bloomberg)

Protest movements produce powerful symbols. Images of the citizens of Sri Lanka storming the presidential residence of the man who steered their country ...

When they started swimming in Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s pool, cooking in his kitchen and working out in the official gym, he had to know it was over for his family’s reign of economic destruction. For the first time since demonstrations began in March in the capital, Colombo, soldiers were seen joining the protests. Images of the citizens of Sri Lanka storming the presidential residence of the man who steered their country into financial ruin and then refused to step down sent a pointed message.

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Image courtesy of "Saanich News"

Sri Lanka opposition meets to name new government amid turmoil (Saanich News)

Protesters stormed the president and prime minister's homes over the country's economic crisis.

“I unite myself to the pain of the people of Sri Lanka, who continue to suffer the effects of the political and economic instability,’’ the pontiff said. “If these kinds of incidents keep on going, we can wave bye-bye to the IMF and any international assistance that is going to come to the country,” he said. Its total foreign debt amounts to $51 billion, of which it must repay $28 billion by the end of 2027. The government must submit a plan on debt sustainability to the IMF in August before reaching an agreement. The chief of defense staff, Shavendra Silva, called for public support to maintain law and order. Protesters remained in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence, his seaside office and the prime minister’s home, saying they would stay until the resignations are official.

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Sri Lanka prime minister's office confirms president to resign after ... (Reuters)

Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has informed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that he will resign, the prime minister's office said on Monday, ...

The country barely has any dollars left to import fuel, which has been severely rationed, and long lines have formed in front of shops selling cooking gas. This government needs to go home and we need better leaders." Foreign exchange reserves were quickly depleted as oil prices rose. "I came alone all this way because I believe we need to see this through. Another protester, Dushantha Gunasinghe, said he had travelled to Colombo from a town 130 km (80 miles) away, walking part of the way because of the fuel crunch. "The people's struggle is for wider political reforms.

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Image courtesy of "Bloomberg"

Sri Lanka Latest: Succession in Focus After Tumultuous Weekend (Bloomberg)

Sri Lanka's opposition parties are trying to cobble together an all-party government and pick candidates who can take over after President Gotabaya ...

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Sri Lanka opposition meets to name new government amid turmoil (CNBC)

Sri Lanka's opposition parties met Sunday to agree on a new government a day after the president and prime minister offered to resign.

"Together with the bishops of the country, I renew my appeal for peace, and I implore those who have authority not to ignore the cry of the poor and the needs of the people.'' "If these kinds of incidents keep on going, we can wave bye-bye to the IMF and any international assistance that is going to come to the country," he said. Its total foreign debt amounts to $51 billion, of which it must repay $28 billion by the end of 2027. The government must submit a plan on debt sustainability to the IMF in August before reaching an agreement. Protesters remained in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence, his seaside office and the prime minister's home, saying they would stay until the resignations are official. The chief of defense staff, Shavendra Silva, called for public support to maintain law and order.

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Image courtesy of "The Washington Post"

People Power Has Brought Down Sri Lanka's Strongman. What Now? (The Washington Post)

Protest movements produce powerful symbols. Images of the citizens of Sri Lanka storming the presidential residence of the man who steered their country ...

It’s time for their own political leaders — and the international community — to heed their call and help them as they forge a new future for their country. The US called on the parliament “to approach this juncture with a commitment to the betterment of the nation — not any one political party,” a State Department spokesperson said during Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to the region. They need to do this quickly — before a potentially dangerous power vacuum develops that could allow extremist groups to exploit the instability. When they started swimming in Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s pool, cooking in his kitchen and working out in the official gym, he had to know it was over for his family’s reign of economic destruction. The IMF said it hoped for a resolution to Sri Lanka’s political turmoil to allow a resumption of bailout talks after the fury of Saturday’s protests. Images of the citizens of Sri Lanka storming the presidential residence of the man who steered their country into financial ruin and then refused to step down sent a pointed message.

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Image courtesy of "San Diego Union-Tribune en Español"

El vacío de poder continúa en Sri Lanka (San Diego Union-Tribune en Español)

Los inconformes seguían en la residencia del presidente, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, su oficina junto al mar y la vivienda oficial del primer ministro, que invadieron ...

Sri Lanka anunció en abril la suspensión del pago de préstamos extranjeros debido a la escasez de divisas. Los manifestantes indignados con las penurias económicas han ocupado las residencias oficiales del presidente y el primer ministro. Se había propuesto al principal líder opositor, Sajith Premadasa, y Dullas Alahapperuma, que fue ministro de Rajapaksa, como presidente y prime ministro, y se les pidió que decidieran cómo compartir los cargos antes de una reunión el lunes con el presidente del Parlamento.

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