Category: Sri Lanka

Wickremesinghe has called on all legislators, including the opposition parliamentarians, to unite and work together to pull the country out of the economic crisis…reports Asian Lite News

“I am not a friend of the Rajapaksas, I am a friend of the people,” President Ranil Wickremesinghe has told Sri Lankans after he took charge as President of Sri Lanka.

Wickremesinghe was administered the oath of office by the chief justice of Sri Lanka, a day after he won a parliament vote on Wednesday.

During Wednesday’s vote, Ranil Wickremesinghe received 134 votes in the parliament vote following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa from the presidency last week amid severe economic turmoil in the country.

After winning the parliament vote by secret ballot, Wickremesinghe addressed the parliament, calling on all legislators including the opposition parliamentarians to unite and work together with him to lead Sri Lanka out of the current economic crisis.

“We are at a critical juncture. There is an economic crisis and the youth want a system change. People want all parliamentarians to come together,” he said.

Out of the 225 parliamentarians, 223 voted to elect a new president and there were four invalid votes. Another two candidates, parliamentarian of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party Dullas Alahapperuma, and National People’s Power leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, got 82 votes and three votes, respectively.

Wickremesinghe is not a new name in politics and has served as the Prime Minister of the island nation six times earlier. He was one of the top contenders for the Presidential election in which members of the House voted through a secret ballot.

Earlier, Wickremesinghe was appointed as the interim president of Sri Lanka after Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled abroad after his palace was stormed by angry protesters amid the unprecedented economic crisis.

After his official residence in the capital, Colombo was stormed by tens of thousands of angry protesters last week, Sri Lanka’s ex-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country to the Maldives before flying out to Singapore. Rajapaksa had offered his resignation after fleeing the country.

Sri Lanka’s economy is bracing for a sharp contraction due to the unavailability of basic inputs for production, an 80 per cent depreciation of the currency since March 2022, coupled with a lack of foreign reserves and the country’s failure to meet its international debt obligations.

Hundreds of Sri Lankans continue to queue up at petrol pumps across the debt-ridden country every day amid fuel shortage, and a large number of people are ditching their cars and motorcycles for bicycles for their daily commute. (ANI)

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Wickremesinghe got 134 votes from parliamentarians in a secret ballot that took place in parliament…reports Asian Lite News

Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was elected as the new president of Sri Lanka in an election held in parliament on Wednesday, called on all legislators, including the opposition parliamentarians, to unite and work together with him to pull the country out of the current economic crisis.

Addressing the Parliament after winning the election, Wickremesinghe said, “We are at a critical juncture. There is an economic crisis and the youth want a system change. People want all parliamentarians to come together.”

“I also want to swear in as president at the parliamentary complex,” Xinhua news agency reported quoted him as saying.

Wickremesinghe got 134 votes from parliamentarians in a secret ballot that took place in parliament.

Out of 225 parliamentarians, 223 voted in the ballot and there were four invalid votes.

Another two candidates — Podujana Peramuna Dullas Alahapperuma, and National People’s Power leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake — got 82 votes and three votes, respectively.

“Regardless of who won, we must ensure that the necessary economic and political changes that people want are met. Overcoming the crisis should be the first and foremost task of parliamentarians,” said Alahapperuma.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned from the post of president last week following massive protests amid a severe economic crisis in the South Asian country.

Following his resignation, Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced that Wickremesinghe, who was the prime minister then, was appointed acting president.

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Wickremesinghe is to compete with the support of the section of former President Rajapksa’s party, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)…report Susitha Fernando

Three leaders, including Prime Minister-turned-acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe, are to contest in the first-ever race for Sri Lanka’s Presidency on Wednesday.

Wickremesinghe is to compete with the support of the section of former President Rajapksa’s party, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

Leader of Samgai Jana Balawegaya (SJB) or United People’s Power party and the Opposition Leader, Sajith Premadasa withdrew from the contest and proposed the name of Dullas Alahapperuma, former Media Minister of Rajapaksa government and also a member of the SLPP for the presidential post while it was seconded by SLPP chairman G. L. Peiris.

According to media reports, the contract between the SJB and the sections of the SLPP was to appoint Sajith Premadasa the Prime Minister if Alahapperuma wins the Presidential post.

As the third contender Marxist party leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s name was included for the race.

The once powerful Mahinda Rajapaksa’s SLPP which won 145 seats out of 225 IN 2020 Parliamentary election has been divided into two sections now and are to support Ranil and Dullas. The party was divided with the immense public unpopularity over the allegation of corruptions by the Rajapaksa family.

Ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had to flee the country following three months of continuous protests after people were burdened by the debt-ridden economy with skyrocketing inflation.

People blamed Rajapaksa for his unforeseen decisions with massive tax cut and overnight change from inorganic farming to organic for the downfall of food production and loss of jobs for majority of farmers.

With no fuel, cooking gas, medicine, food and fertiliser, people took to the streets from March 31 and amid mounting public protest Mahinda Rajapaksa and his cabinet had to step down on May 9 and on July 9, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced that he would resign when protesters took over his official residence, office and Prime Minister’s official house, the Temple trees.

However, Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives and later to Singapore from where he announced his resignation. In the absence of a President, Wickremesinghe was appointed the Acting President.

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“His Holiness expresses hope for stability, prosperity and well-being to be promptly restored in the country, said the letter…reports Asian Lite News

Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has offered prayers for a swift end to the crisis in Sri Lanka.

Conveying deep lament over the developing crisis in Sri Lanka, a letter extended to the Sri Lankan Tibetan Buddhist Brotherhood Society says, “His Holiness expresses hope for stability, prosperity and well-being to be promptly restored in the country.

“His Holiness is hopeful that no matter how difficult the situation may be, people will not lose their enthusiasm and confidence in their ability to change the current circumstances for the better.

The Office of Dalai Lama thanked the organisation for actively promoting the ethical values and commitments of His Holiness’ to the wellbeing of humanity on his birthday on July 6.

The letter conveyed His Holiness’ appreciation for Senior Sangha members and other scholars, including Prof Chandima Wijebandara and Prof Miriswatte Wimalagnana Thero.

“Indeed His Holiness was pleased to receive good wishes from all Mahanayake Theros of Sri Lanka. He conveys his hearty thanks to all the spiritual brothers and other speakers for their kind words,” the letter reads.

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He clarified that there was “no political intent” but the officials presented economic situation of all the states…reports Asian Lite News

An all-party meeting, called by the government on Tuesday on the Sri Lanka crisis, saw protests by members of opposition parties over the economic conditions of Indian states being discussed.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that Sri Lanka is in a serious crisis but dismissed suggestions that India could have a similar crisis. He said that the big lessons of Sri Lanka is to be drawn on fiscal prudence and good governance, and “fortunately in this country, under the leadership of the PM we have both in very ample measures”.

However, as the presentation by Finance Ministry officials had apprehensions that freebies could damage economic condition of the states, the opposition objected to economic condition of the states being brought up.

After the meeting, Jaishankar said: “It was government’s initiative as to tell the leader about the situation of the states.. total 46 parties we’re invited, 28 attended the meeting… 8 ministers were from government. Why we called this meeting is because… we wanted to all parties, all leaders of the country to appreciate… there is a very serious crisis in Sri Lanka… tje situation is in Sri Lanka is very unprecedented and facing a financial and political crisis.”

He clarified that there was “no political intent” but the officials presented economic situation of all the states.

However, Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy, who attended the meeting, said: “It was improper to call meeting on Sri Lanka and give presentation on states.”

From the government side, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi was present while P Chidambaram and Manickam Tagore of the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party’s Sharad Pawar, DMK’s T.R. Baalu and M.M. Abdulla were among those present.

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