Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has been appointed Acting President, according to the country’s Parliament’s Speaker.
It is reported that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has fled the country on a military jet informed Ranil Wickremesinghe of the appointment under Article 37.1 of Sri Lanka’s constitution.
But there remains no direct word from Rajapaksa himself.
Per reports, all announcements concerning the country in recent days have come from the parliament speaker and the prime minister’s office.
Ranil Wickremesinghe’s appointment comes at a time when citizens are displeased with the running of the country.
Sri Lanka has defaulted on its debt for the first time in its history as the country struggles with its worst financial crisis in more than 70 years.
Also, the country has suspended sales of fuel for non-essential vehicles as it faces its worst economic crisis in decades.
In view of the challenges, citizens have hit the street to protest. The protesters are staying defiant in the face of a nation-wide curfew imposed by the prime minister’s office.
They are gathered outside the Prime Minister’s office.
But the police are at the scene and have fired more volleys of teargas on the crowd in a bid to drive them back.
According to international media outlets, the avenue is wreathed in smoke.
Credit: BBC
“People are running, trying to escape the gas. Those hit are dousing themselves with water and coughing.
“Soldiers are still holding down the fort. Perched on the building’s gates, they’re even dumping water on protesters to help those struggling to breathe,” BBC reported.
The protesters have managed to rip open the gates to the prime minister’s office in Colombo, but a wall of soldiers are holding them back.
A 31-year-old protester Viraga Perera told the BBC “the people here are here so they can have a vote for the future.”
“Our country is facing an extreme economic crisis. We will keep coming, we will keep fighting until we have some assurance that we and our children have some future in this country,” the said protestor added.
Amidst the crisis, Sri Lanka’s national television channel Rupavihini has suspended its telecast due to protestors entering the state television office.
On the other hand, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has confirmed his resignation due to the challenges facing the country.
Rajapaksa is currently not in Sri Lanka but in Maldives with his wife and two security officials.
His brother, former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, has also left Sri Lanka and is said to be heading to the US, according to sources.
Source:Â The Independent Ghana