Page 6 - The Indian EYE 052022

BIG STORY MAY 20, 2022 | The Indian Eye 6

Ranil Wickremasinghe was sworn in as the new Prime Minister on Thursday (ANI) Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has been prohibited from leaving the country (ANI)

amid large scale violent anti-govern- protesters near the Temple Trees and fall in tourism during the COVID-19 Monday. Neither my father nor my-
ment protests, a devastated economy at the Galle Face Green in Colombo. pandemic, as well as reckless eco- self have any intention to leave Sri
as well as a severely fragmented pol- Mahinda Rajapaksa and some nomic policies, like the government’s Lanka and will continue to remain
itics. of his family members were shifted move last year to ban chemical fer- here,” Namal Rajapaksa said in a
Sri Lanka is facing its worst eco- to Trincomalee Naval Base, a day tilizers in a bid to make Sri Lanka’s tweet.
nomic crisis since independence with after he resigned following violent agriculture “100 per cent organic”. The ban was imposed by the Fort
food and fuel shortages, soaring pric- protests. Mahinda Rajapaksa, who re- Magistrate consequent to an applica-
es and power cuts affecting a large Several buses were burnt and cently tendered his resignation from tion made on behalf of the Attorney
number of the citizens. cars fell into ponds near the PM’s the position of the Prime Minister General of Sri Lanka supported by
At the same time, the country residence in Colombo. Yet people of Sri Lanka, has been barred from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka
continues to negotiate with the In- continue to protest against Sri Lanka leaving the country by a local court, (BASL) and aggrieved parties of the
ternational Monetary Fund (IMF) to and demand President Gotabaya Ra- media reports said. attack on anti-government protesters
bail out its struggling economy. japaksa’s immediate resignation in The travel ban has also been in Colombo on Monday, the report
It is to be seen, how Wickremes- connection with the worst econom- imposed on Mahinda Rajapaksa’s said.
inghe assuages the anti-government ic and political crisis in the country. son and former Minister Namal The application filed in the
protestors in the near term, with Sri Lanka is facing its worst eco- Rajapaksa, Johnston Fernando, court related to the alleged attacks
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the nomic crisis since independence with Pavithra Wanniarachchi, C. B. Rath- launched by the ruling Sri Lanka
central figure whose ouster is being food and fuel shortages, soaring pric- nayake, Sanath Nishantha, and San- Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) loyalists
sought by the protestors, still in place. es and power cuts affecting a large jeewa Edirimanne, among others, on anti-government protesters near
Meanwhile, amid the ongoing number of the citizens, resulting in News Wire reported citing sources. the Temple Trees and at the Galle
political crisis in Sri Lanka, including massive protests over the govern- “I personally will extend my fullest Face Green in Colombo on Monday
large scale anti-government protests ment’s handling of the situation. cooperation to any investigation that that led to widespread unrest across
that turned violent on Monday, the The recession is attributed to for- is taking place with regard to the un- Sri Lanka.
country has found for itself new selfie eign exchange shortages caused by a fortunate events that took place on More than a hundred protestors
points near burnt buses and cars sub- were injured at the Galle Face protest
merged in ponds outside the Prime site during violent clashes resulting
Minister’s residence in Colombo. in a nationwide curfew in the country
Outside the office of the Prime with the country’s tri forces ordered
Minister near Temple Tree, which to shoot at sight all those who plun-
was not till long ago occupied by the der public property or cause personal
now-former Prime Minister Mahinda harm on Tuesday.
Rajapaksa, people were seen walking Mahinda Rajapaksa and some
on the streets with their families and of his family members were shifted
cars submerged in the ponds becom- to Trincomalee Naval Base, a day af-
ing an attractive selfie point for them. ter he resigned following violent pro-
People can also be seen taking tests that led to a nationwide curfew.
selfies on the buses that were set to As the new Prime Minister takes
flames by the protesters. charge of the country in the middle
The protests in Sri Lanka which of an unrest, the Sri Lankans face
were going on relatively peacefully enormous challenges. It won’t be an
for weeks turned violent on Monday easy task for the new government
after alleged attacks launched by the either as it tries to restore order at
ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Sri Lankan people have been protesting against the rising food and fuel prices for weeks (Agencies) home and attempts to maintain good
(SLPP) loyalists on anti-government relations with both India and China.

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