Sri Lanka's interim president announces state of emergency

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
18 Jul 2022 08:53

Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe states that a new state of emergency is required to quell social unrest in Sri Lanka, which is suffering from a deepening economic crisis.

Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe (REUTERS)

Sri Lanka's acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared a state of emergency as per a government notice which was released late on Sunday and reported by local media.

"It is expedient, so to do, in the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community," the declaration read.

It is worth noting that Wickremesinghe has already declared a state of emergency last week after ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country, but it is unclear whether the order was withdrawn or lapsed.

While the current regulation's specifics have yet to be declared, previous emergency powers have been put into force to deploy the military to arrest and detain people, search private property, and quell protests.

Political impasse

Sri Lanka is set to elect a president this week, with parliament members set to hear presidential nominations on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka has been facing a severe shortage of fuel, medicine, food, as well as record inflation rates.

As a result, the public outpoured rage and resentment toward the political leadership which led President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country, submitting his resignation letter to parliament, which accepted it on Friday.

Simultaneously, Wickremesinghe was sworn in as interim president after serving as prime minister.

In April, all 24 ministers of Sri Lanka's cabinet resigned from their posts amid protests and clashes in the capital, Colombo.

Unrest delays IMF bailout

On Saturday, Sri Lanka's parliament convened to begin the process of electing a new president, and a shipment of fuel arrived to provide some relief to the crisis-stricken country.

Sri Lanka has requested a bailout package from the International Monetary Fund, but the talks have been stalled due to political turmoil.

The country's central bank chief told the Wall Street Journal that the economy would likely contract by more than 6% this year.

Street protests have subsided since Rajapaksa's departure. However, 500 people remain in the president's office after it was overrun earlier this month.