Sri Lanka Crisis LIVE Updates: Public anger is at a fever pitch in Sri Lanka as protests spread.
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa revoked the emergency rule ordinance that had gone into effect on April 1 yesterday as protests spread in the island country amid the nation's worst economic crisis in decades.
Earlier on Tuesday, Sri Lanka's President lost his parliamentary majority as former allies urged his resignation.
Severe shortages of food, fuel and other essentials -- along with record inflation and crippling power cuts -- have inflicted widespread misery in the country's most painful downturn since 1948.
Massive protests reflect public anger which is at a fever pitch in the country of 22 million.
Public anger is at a fever pitch, with crowds attempting to storm the homes of several government figures since the weekend and large demonstrations elsewhere. Students were seen marching towards the Prime Minister's house in rain this evening.
Here are the LIVE updates on Sri Lanka Crisis:
- Finance Minister Ali Sabry resigned a day after his appointment and ahead of crucial talks scheduled with the International Monetary Fund for a loan programme.
- The UN Human Rights Council said it was closely watching the deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka, which is already facing international censure over its human rights record.
- The cash-strapped country has decided to temporarily shut its embassies in Norway and Iraq, as well as the country's Consulate General in Sydney.
A group of masked soldiers with assault rifles drove through the crowd on unmarked bikes at a protest near Parliament, triggering outrage on social media. This led to a confrontation between the armed soldiers and police officials, prompting Defence Chief Shavendra Silva to call for an inquiry.
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa late Tuesday night revoked the state of emergency he had declared on April 1 with immediate effect, even as the government struggled to quell protests amid the nation's worst economic crisis in decades.
The ruling coalition lost its majority in Parliament after at least 41 lawmakers walked out of the alliance, with former allies urging President Rajapaksa's resignation
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa late on Tuesday revoked the emergency rule ordinance that had gone into effect on April 1, even as the government struggled to quell protests amid the nation's worst economic crisis in decades. Latest Here
