Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Sheikh Qassem: We, our allies, the honorable in our nation, our people, and our army will never accept being subservient to the US or 'Israel'
Sheikh Qassem: They must despair, for whatever they do, this people cannot be defeated or broken, and we shall neither fall nor yield
Sheikh Qassem: Threats neither advance nor delay matters, yet the possibility of war or its absence exists because 'Israel' and the US are weighing their options
Sheikh Qassem: All these threats are simply a form of political pressure after a whole year of efforts proved ineffective
Sheikh Qassem: 'Israel's' 'servants' in Lebanon are few, but they cause problems by obstructing the country’s stability, growth, and liberation alongside the US and 'Israel'
Sheikh Qassem: Weapons block 'Israel’s' project, and anyone seeking disarmament plays into 'Israel’s' hands
Sheikh Qassem: The agreement came because we held fast, empowered by our vision, our faith, our will, our people, our patriotism, and our unwavering attachment to our land
Sheikh Qassem: People of Might Battle was a confrontation by a modest force, incomparable to the enemy's strength, but it was noble in spirit, brimming with courage, resolve, and unwavering faith in victory
Sheikh Qassem: Today, Lebanon is under an Israeli aerial occupation
Sheikh Qassem: The project of "Israel" came crashing into the defenses of the People of Might Battle

Sri Lanka protests reach their 100th day

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 17 Jul 2022 20:24
3 Min Read

Colombo's political and economic crisis is still ongoing.

  • x
  • Protesters gather to storm Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office, demanding he resign after president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country amid an economic crisis in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 13, 2022. (AP)
    Protests in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 13, 2022 (AP)

Protests in Sri Lanka have reached their 100th day on Sunday, forcing one President out of his office and now the protestors are after his successor as the economic crisis worsens. 

Last weekend, Gotabaya Rajapaksa narrowly escaped his palace just before protesters stormed his residence. Rajapaksa is blamed by the protesters for Sri Lanka's financial turmoil, which has put 22 million people in suffering as they endure food, medicine, and fuel shortages. 

Rajapaksa's ousting was organized mainly by Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok posts.

It all began as a two-day protest on April 9, when tens of thousands of people sat in front of Rajapaksa's office. 

After Rajapaska's resignation, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe automatically became acting President and is looking for a vote next week to become the next President. However, his popularity among protesters isn't so high. 

Read more: Tight security as Sri Lankan MPs meet to elect new president

US eyes Sri Lanka crisis with twisted excitement

Sri Lanka has become the first country to announce default on its foreign debt in the 21st century as its government declared bankruptcy, in addition to living a political crisis that has seen its President announce resignation and an economic crisis which has crippled millions of lives in the country. 

Sri Lanka grapples with record inflation rates, medicine, fuel and food shortages which came as a result of multiple factors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic that hit the country's lifeline, the tourism industry, and energy inflation, which came as a result of the war in Ukraine. 

Sri Lanka's debt problem did not come from China as major Western news outlets are trying to portray. In fact, bilateral foreign debt to China only accounts for 10% of the country's outstanding foreign debt. Most of the debt is owed to commercial creditors and multilateral financial institutions from the West - those are largely responsible for the crippling debt, unpayable at this time. On its part, Sri Lanka sold the debt to vulture funds, which "exploited Sri Lanka's every penny." 

Will Sri Lanka become a battlefield for exploitation? "Sri Lanka is already scarred and cannot bear the pressure and cost of becoming a geopolitical arena," The Global Times wrote. But, the US looks "at Sri Lanka which is in crisis not with anxiety, but with twisted excitement." 

Genuine assistance to Colombo does not seem to be anywhere on the horizon.

  • Gotabaya Rajapaksa
  • Ranil Wickremesinghe
  • Sri Lanka

Most Read

13 elite Israeli troops were wounded in a confrontations in Beit Jinn, Syria.

13 elite Israeli troops wounded in confrontations in southern Syria

  • West Asia
  • 28 Nov 2025
Hezbollah announces the martyrdom of Haitham al-Tabatabai

Hezbollah announces the martyrdom of commander Haitham Tabatabai

  • West Asia
  • 23 Nov 2025
A boy tries to stand near missiles displayed in the National Aerospace Park of the Revolutionary Guard, just outside Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025 (AP)

Key Israeli sites destroyed, nuclear docs moved to Tehran: Minister

  • Politics
  • 22 Nov 2025
Hezbollah publishes biography of martyred leader Haitham al-Tabatabai

Hezbollah publishes biography of martyred leader Haitham Tabatabai

  • Politics
  • 23 Nov 2025

Coverage

All
In Five

Read Next

All
National Guard are seen after reports of two National Guard soldiers shot near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, November 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Politics

NG shooting suspect belonged to CIA 'Zero Units' in Afghanistan

This satellite image taken by Airbus DS shows objects on the ground at the Saudi Maternity Hospital in el-Fasher, Sudan (AP)
Politics

Inside the RSF’s brutal campaign against El Fasher’s healthcare

Lebanon urges UN action as 'Israel' builds new walls inside its border
Politics

Lebanon files UN complaint over Israeli concrete walls inside border

UN slams 'Israel' over Gaza torture reports, urges full investigation
Politics

UN slams 'Israel' over Gaza torture reports, urges full investigation

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS