Amid growing pressure to resign from the top post, Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksha had on Saturday escaped from his home. If reports to believe, Rajapaksa’s whereabouts are still not confirmed.
New Delhi: A day after report of vandalism and arson at houses of Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prome Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Army Chief General Shavendra Silva on Sunday appealed to restore peace in the island nation by supporting armed forces and law enforcement agencies. The Army chief sought people’s support to maintain law and order situation in the country which have been witnessing sporadic violence in the form of arson, loot, vandalism after the worst ever economic downturn. General Shavendra, in a statement, said, “An opportunity has arisen to resolve the current crisis in a peaceful manner”
Amid growing pressure to resign from the top post, Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksha had on Saturday escaped from his home. If reports to believe, Rajapaksa’s whereabouts are still not confirmed. The protestors had stormed into the house of Rajapasksa. They gathered to demand Rajapaksa’s resignation, the police resorted to firing tear gas shells, leading to the protest turning violent. Following this, President Rajapaksa asked speaker to resign from his post on July 13.
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Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, too, announced to step down once all-party government readies to take over the charge. Hours after Wickeremesinghe’s announcement to step down from the post of Sri Lanka Prime Minister, his house was also set ablaze by angry protesters on Saturday evening. As per the reports, hundreds of protesters barged into the PM’s house, destroyed it from inside, looted the belongings and set it on fire.
Wickremesinghe has reportedly told other party leaders that he is taking the decision to step down in view of the fact that nationwide fuel distribution is due to recommence this week, the World Food Programme Director is due to visit the country this week and the debt sustainability report for the IMF is due to be finalised shortly. And if amid these the protests continue, it may cause hurdles in the efforts.
The incident came on a day Sri Lanka lifted a curfew on Saturday which was already being defied by thousands of people ahead of a mass rally to demand resignation of both Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe.
