After thousands of demonstrators broke into the Prime Minister’s office today, as per Reports, Sri Lanka’s Chief of Defence Staff appealed to the populace to help maintain law and order and begged them not to harm public property. In a military plane, President Rajapaksa and his wife have escaped to the Maldives.
According to a statement from the Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva, the Speaker of Parliament has been asked to convene a conference of all party leaders to discuss the island nation’s worst-ever economic and political crisis.
Following the conclusion of the all-party meeting this evening, a statement was released requesting that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe step down and allow the Speaker of the House to serve in the capacity of acting President.
After the President fled to the Maldives earlier today, source says, demonstrators in Sri Lanka ignored tear gas, water cannons, and a state of emergency to enter the Prime Minister’s office.
Mr. Wickremesinghe claimed in a televised statement that he had told the military and police to use “whatever action is necessary to restore order.” However, video showed armed security guards watching while demonstrators, some waving flags, wandered around and took pictures in the area around his office. If Mr. Rajapaksa steps down, “Mr. Wickremesinghe, 73, will automatically take over as acting president“.
“We can’t tear up our constitution” he said in his statement. “We can’t allow fascists to take over. We must end this fascist threat to democracy”, he said.
When Mr. Rajapaksa’s home and office were taken over by protestors on Saturday, Mr. Wickremesinghe’s private residence was also set ablaze.
image credit : peakpx
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