Sri Lanka Crisis Live: Anti-government demonstrators attend a protest near the Presidential secretariat after the authorities lifted a nationwide curfew to celebrate Vesak festival amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo. (Reuters)Sri Lanka Live News Updates: The newly-elected Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said Monday that the crisis-stricken nation was down to its last day of petrol as the power minister asked citizens not to join the lengthy queues at fuel stations that have galvanised weeks of anti-government protests. He also proposed privatising the loss-making national airline as part of reforms aimed at dealing with the country worst economic crisis in decades.
In a message to the people, Wickremesinghe said that he plans to propose a special relief budget that will replace the development-oriented budget earlier approved for this year. This, he said, would channel funds previously allocated for infrastructure development to public welfare.
He also said that the 21st Amendment to the Constitution would be discussed on Monday as he got backing from former President Maithripala Sirisena-led SLFP in the formation of the government to tackle the nation’s worst economic crisis. The 21st Amendment to the Constitution will be produced to net for approval, he said.
Meanwhile, India delivered the 12th shipment of diesel containing over 400,000 Metric Tonnes (MT) of fuel to the island nation which is facing its worst economic crisis.
The newly-elected Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said Monday that the crisis-stricken nation was down to its last day of petrol as the power minister asked citizens not to join the lengthy queues at fuel stations that have galvanised weeks of anti-government protests. He also proposed privatising the loss-making national airline as part of reforms aimed at dealing with the country worst economic crisis in decades.
In a message to the people, Wickremesinghe said that he plans to propose a special relief budget that will replace the development-oriented budget earlier approved for this year. This, he said, would channel funds previously allocated for infrastructure development to public welfare.
Sri Lanka's new prime minister said on Monday the crisis-hit nation was down to its last day of petrol, as the country's power minister told citizens not to join the lengthy fuel queues that have galvanised weeks of anti-government protests.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, appointed prime minister on Thursday, said in an address to the nation the country urgently needed $75 million in foreign exchange to pay for essential imports.
"At the moment, we only have petrol stocks for a single day. The next couple of months will be the most difficult ones of our lives," he said.
"We must prepare ourselves to make some sacrifices and face the challenges of this period."
Two shipments of petrol and two of diesel using an Indian credit line could provide relief in the next few days, he added, but the country is also facing a shortage of 14 essential medicines. --PTI
Sri Lanka's main Opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) on Monday said it would offer conditional support to the interim all-party government headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to help tackle the country's crippling economic and political crisis. Wickremesinghe, the United National Party (UNP) leader was appointed as Sri Lanka's 26th prime minister on Thursday as the country was without a government since Monday when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's elder brother and prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned after violence erupted following an attack on the anti-government protesters by his supporters.
“As a responsible political party, Samagi Jana Balawegaya believes saving the country from the current crisis is of the utmost importance,” the SJB said in a statement. --PTI
A few more Cabinet ministers of the new government are slated to be sworn-in on Monday, according to Daily Mirror.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is planning for the appointment of 18 ministers in addition to himself and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, it said. Besides, there will be 30 state ministers.
According to the report, ten slots will be reserved for lawmakers of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).
Newly-appointed Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said said the Galle Face protest site will continue to be protected.
He was quote as saying by Daily News said former State Minister of Defense and Deputy Leader of the UNP Ruwan Wijewardene has been tasked with the responsibility of looking into the needs of the protesters and provide protection to the protest site.
Wickremesinghe also announced the formation of a committee comprising the Mayor of Colombo, a representative of the Urban Development Authority, a representative of the Ministry of Health and a representative of the Army and the Police to maintain peace.
Sri Lankan police on Monday came under pressure to arrest the Rajapaksa family loyalists involved in attacks on peaceful protesters last week, even as it arrested over 200 people on various charges following the violence that left nine people dead.
Police have arrested some 230 people on charges including violation of curfew, attacking the public and causing damages to public and private properties since May 9.
“The police said they have already arrested over 200 people for attacking the government politicians. We condemn such violence. But they have no hurry to arrest the government-backed attackers of protesters," Nuwan Bopage from the young lawyers' association told reporters.
The Attorney General too had asked the police to expedite the investigations. Police have urged the public to provide information on government-backed attackers. They have arrested a worker from the ruling party-controlled municipal council of the Colombo suburb of Moratuwa.
The police set up dedicated phone lines for the public to provide information on the attackers while entrusting the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) with the investigations. (PTI)
The Sri Lankan stock market is closed on Monday, May 16, for a holiday. Trading is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, May 17.
The CSE All-Share index settled 4.43% higher at 8,098.41 on Friday. It posted a 9% gain for the truncated week, as the stock market was closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, following violent clashes between protesters and government supporters across the country.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in a tweet on Sunday that he will provide a "full explanation" to the people of the country reeling under an economic crisis.
In an effort to bring back stability, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had reappointed Wickremesinghe as PM on Thursday and swore in four Cabinet ministers Saturday until a full Cabinet is appointed.
In a series of tweets on Sunday, newly-appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said he held discussions with representatives of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank on the current economic crisis in the country, and the discussions focused on support for drug, food and fertiliser supply issues.
In a statement, the Prime Minister said that discussions have also been held with foreign representatives regarding the establishment of a foreign consortium for financial assistance to coincide with the meeting of the two international financial institutions.
Emphasising that the talks have been positive, the Prime Minister said that the immediate challenge for the Government is to obtain the funds required to pay for the fuel requirements for the coming week.
Due to the dollar shortage in the banks, the Government is now looking at other alternatives to raise the required funds, he said.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said that the 21st Amendment to the Constitution would be discussed on Monday as he got backing from former President Maithripala Sirisena-led SLFP in the formation of the government to tackle the nation’s worst economic crisis.
The 21st Amendment to the Constitution will be discussed on Monday and will be produced to net for approval, he said.