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Tag: mahinda rajapaksa

  • Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court extends abroad journey ban on Mahinda and Basil Rajapaksa until Aug 11

    Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court on Wednesday prolonged till August 11 the abroad journey ban on former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his youthful brother and former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa, who’re extensively blamed for the present financial disaster within the island nation.

    On August 1, the nation’s apex court docket had prolonged till August 4 the abroad journey ban on Rajapaksa and his youthful brother when a movement associated to a petition requesting the court docket to concern an order for an investigation towards the individuals liable for the present financial disaster got here up.

    The petition by a bunch together with former Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chandra Jayaratne, former Sri Lanka swimming champion Julian Bolling, Jehan Kanagaratna and Transparency International Sri Lanka, claimed that three individuals – Basil, Mahinda and former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal – had been straight liable for the unsustainability of Sri Lanka’s overseas debt, its debt default and the present financial disaster resulting in an acute scarcity of fundamental commodities corresponding to meals, gas, and medicines.

    On July 15, Sri Lanka’s apex court docket had barred the trio from leaving the nation until July 28. The ban was later prolonged until August 2.

    Earlier this month, Basil was prevented from leaving Sri Lanka following protests from passengers and officers on the Bandaranaike International Airport right here.

    Mahinda and Basil’s brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the previous Sri Lankan President, arrived in Singapore on July 14 on a “private visit” from the Maldives after he fled his nation to flee a preferred rebellion towards his authorities’s financial mismanagement.

    Rajapaksa has been issued a brand new visa by Singapore, extending his keep within the nation until August 11.

    Sri Lanka has seen months of mass unrest over the worst financial disaster and lots of blame the previous authorities led by Rajapaksa and his household for mishandling the island nation’s economic system.

    The authorities declared chapter in mid-April by refusing to honour its worldwide debt.

    The island nation of twenty-two million individuals, is underneath the grip of an unprecedented financial turmoil, the worst in seven a long time, leaving hundreds of thousands struggling to purchase meals, drugs, gas and different necessities.

    Sri Lanka’s whole overseas debt stands at USD 51 billion.

  • Sri Lanka’s ex-finance minister Basil Rajapaksa resigns from Parliament

    Basil Rajapaksa, the youngest brother of Sri Lanka’s president and former finance minister, resigned from his parliamentary seat on Thursday, the second such resignation from the cash-strapped authorities in a month from the highly effective Rajapaksa household amid huge public protest over the unprecedented financial disaster within the nation.

    With the Rajapaksas coming beneath intense public strain for his or her mishandling of the financial disaster, Mahinda Rajapaksa, the prime minister and elder brother of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, needed to resign final month.

    Talking to reporters in Colombo, Basil mentioned, “I resigned my seat to allow Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) to nominate someone suitable.” Asked if he had preempted resignation as he could be disqualified to be in Parliament by way of the proposed twenty first Amendment (21A) to the Constitution on account of his holding of each the US and Sri Lankan twin citizenship, Basil, the youngest of the Rajapaksa brothers, mentioned it wasn’t so.

    Basil, nonetheless, mentioned he’s against the twenty first Amendment, the Daily Mirror newspaper reported.

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    The 21A goals, amongst different reforms, at barring twin residents from contesting elections to carry public workplace.

    The twenty first Amendment can be anticipated to annul the 20A to the Constitution, which supplies unfettered powers to President Gotabaya after abolishing the nineteenth Amendment that can strengthen Parliament.

    In a direct assault on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Basil mentioned he’s in opposition to presidential powers being pruned to be vested with a chief minister not elected by the individuals. His elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa needed to resign amidst public anger in opposition to the federal government’s lack of ability to deal with the financial disaster.

    Wickremesinghe final week batted for the twenty first Amendment to the Constitution, saying it’ll curb the president’s limitless powers whereas enhancing the function of Parliament in governing the debt-ridden nation which can be dealing with an unprecedented political turmoil.

    Both Basil, 71, and Mahinda, 76, fell sufferer to public rage as demonstrations turned widespread urging the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 72, over the financial disaster.

    Widely considered the mental pillar of the Rajapaksa household of political brothers, Basil was the finance minister of Sri Lanka till April 4 when he was sacked by President Gotabaya because the nation’s financial disaster worsened.

    He was accused of being partially answerable for the financial disaster within the nation.

    However, Basil denied that the financial disaster was not his making and the nation ought to have gone to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout a lot earlier.

    Sri Lanka is at present within the technique of hanging a bailout cope with the IMF.

    Basil mentioned he was the one who initiated engagement with the IMF however there was one other group within the authorities in opposition to it at the moment.

    He mentioned the federal government ought to go for an IMF programme on a sound footing.

    Basil asserted it was his initiative — making contact with India for credit score strains — that saved Sri Lanka from struggling extra.

    On Wednesday, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe informed Parliament that no nation besides India is offering cash to the crisis-hit island nation for gas.

    Meanwhile, billionaire businessman Dhammika Perera is tipped to be nominated because the SLPP nationwide listing parliamentarian to fill the seat vacated with the resignation of Basil, the Colombo Page information portal reported.

  • Mahinda Rajapaksa’s key ally named as suspect for assault on anti-government protesters

    A former Sri Lankan minister and a key ally of former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was on Wednesday named a suspect within the lethal assault on anti-government protesters final month whilst President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed a Commission of Inquiry to probe the current violence within the nation.

    At least 10 folks, together with a ruling celebration MP, have been killed within the May 9 clashes triggered by a pro-government group attacking anti-government protesters, who have been demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over the nation’s worst financial disaster that led to acute shortages of staple meals, gas and energy.

    Johnston Fernando, a former senior minister who was seen making an inflammatory speech addressing the Mahinda Rajapaksa supporters earlier than they went about attacking the unarmed protesters, has been named a suspect.

    Police had earlier recorded an announcement from him. At least two of his parliamentary colleagues, state ministers are at the moment beneath custody.

    ALSO READ | India totally supportive of Sri Lanka’s democracy, stability and financial restoration: MEA

    The backlash from the assault noticed private properties of over 70 parliamentarians of the ruling celebration going through arson assaults. Over 1,700 folks have been arrested for the assaults.

    The President’s Office on Wednesday stated a particular three-member probe panel headed by a retired decide has been appointed to research and report on all lack of life and property, together with arson, theft and homicide, which came about in a number of areas of the island between March 31 and May 15.

    Supreme Court Justice President’s Counsel B P Aluvihare has been appointed because the Chairman of the Commission, News1st reported.

    Former Senior DIG S M Wickramasinghe and Additional Chief Valuer N.A.S Wasantha Kumara kind the remainder of the fee, the report stated.

    Police chief Chandana Wickremaratna on Wednesday attended the courtroom to clarify the non-transfer of his senior deputy Deshabandu Tennakoon. The Justice of the Peace courtroom had instructed Wickremaratna to switch Tennakoon out of the western province division which he headed on the time of the assault.

    Tennakoon was accused of siding with the pro-government group who had attacked the protesters.

    Sri Lanka has been witnessing large-scale protests towards the federal government’s dealing with of the debt-ridden economic system — the worst-ever financial disaster within the nation’s historical past. The nation of twenty-two million folks is grappling with unprecedented financial turmoil since its independence from Britain in 1948.

    The disaster is induced partly by a scarcity of international forex, which has meant that the nation can not afford to pay for imports of staple meals and gas, resulting in acute shortages and really excessive costs.

  • Lankan PM Wickremesinghe says no shoot-on-sight orders given throughout violence

    Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe advised Parliament on Thursday that no shoot-on-sight orders had been issued to the Defence Ministry amidst violent anti-government protests within the island nation.

    On May 10, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence ordered the Army, the Air Force and the Navy personnel to open hearth on anybody looting public property or inflicting hurt to others amidst violent protests within the island nation over the unprecedented financial and political disaster.

    The order got here after mobs had gone on the rampage attacking properties linked to the Rajapaksa household and people near them. The assault on the properties linked to individuals near former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa occurred after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters in Colombo.

    Wickremesinghe stated that no such order has been issued in writing, the Colombo Gazette information portal reported. The Prime Minister stated that the police can use their discretion and open hearth if there’s a want to take action however there are procedures to comply with.

    He stated that whereas properties belonging to some members of Parliaments had been attacked final week, a shoot-on-sight order was not issued.

    The Ministry of Defence had, nevertheless, introduced final week that shoot-on-sight orders had been issued to stop additional violence. The Police and army had been deployed in Colombo and different components of the nation after violence unfold following an assault on peaceable protesters at Galle Face, the place the Presidential Secretariat is positioned.

    Over eight individuals had been killed within the unprecedented violence that erupted after supporters of the then prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa attacked anti-government protesters right here. Over 250 individuals have been injured within the violence in Colombo and different components of the nation.

    Sri Lanka is dealing with its worst financial disaster since gaining independence from Britain in 1948. The disaster is triggered partly by an absence of overseas foreign money, which has meant that the nation can not afford to pay for imports of staple meals and gas, resulting in acute shortages and really excessive costs.

  • Sri Lanka’s ex-strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa makes first look in Parliament since quitting as PM

    Sri Lanka’s former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday made his first look in Parliament since he was pressured to resign as prime minister and take shelter in a navy camp beneath excessive safety amidst violent protests towards the financial disaster largely blamed on the Rajapaksas.

    Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, who served because the nation’s prime minister thrice, noticed his residence set on fireplace final week. He, alongside together with his spouse and household, had fled his official residence – Temple Trees – and took shelter on the naval base in Trincomalee.

    Mahinda resigned as prime minister final week, hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters, prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy Army troops within the capital.

    The assault triggered widespread violence towards pro-Rajapaksa politicians.

    At least 9 folks died with over 200 being hospitalised. Some 58 of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s authorities colleagues have seen arson assaults on their private properties.

    Mahinda Rajapaksa’s bed room is pictured, at a vandalised property that belongs to the previous Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s household, following violent clashes between professional and anti-government factions and police, in Weeraketiya, Sri Lanka, May 11, 2022. (Reuters)

    Mahinda, who’s an MP, was seen in Parliament, his first look since he was pressured to resign and retreat to a Navy Camp within the Eastern Province following the May ninth Black Monday violence, the News First newspaper reported.

    His son and former cabinet minister Namal Rajapaksa additionally attended the Parliament session.

    Both Rajapaksas have been notable absentees on Tuesday when a movement to droop the Standing Orders to debate the movement expressing displeasure on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was taken up for a vote, it stated.

    The movement was defeated.

    On May 11, Defence Secretary Gen. (Rtd.) Kamal Gunaratne confirmed that former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was briefly moved to the Trincomalee Navy Dockyard.

    “He will not live there forever. After the situation returns to normal, he will be relocated to a residence or location of his choice,” he stated.

    He stated the previous prime minister can be protected so long as he lives, as each former president is entitled to safety and safety.
    Sri Lanka is going through its worst financial disaster since gaining independence from Britain in 1948.

    The disaster is prompted partly by an absence of international foreign money, which has meant that the nation can not afford to pay for imports of staple meals and gasoline, resulting in acute shortages and really excessive costs.

    Thousands of demonstrators have hit the streets throughout Sri Lanka since April 9 searching for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the federal government ran out of cash for very important imports.

  • Sri Lanka says it’s probing Indian media report on LTTE planning assault on May 18

    Sri Lanka on Sunday stated it’s taking all additional steps to strengthen the safety of the nation because it investigates the report revealed in Indian media that the banned LTTE is planning an assault within the island nation on May 18, coinciding with the Mullivaikal anniversary that marks the top of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009.

    President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who’s at the moment dealing with public demand for his resignation over his mishandling of the financial disaster, is the person who ruthlessly ended Sri Lanka’s practically 30-year civil conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) with the loss of life of its supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran in 2009. However, the previous defence secretary stands accused of violating human rights, a cost he vehemently denies.

    The Sri Lankan defence ministry in an announcement stated ‘The Hindu’ newspaper has revealed a report on May 13 quoting Indian intelligence that the LTTE is planning to launch an assault in Sri Lanka on May 18.

    “After inquiring about the above information, the Indian intelligence services have informed Sri Lanka that the information has been given as general information and further informed that the investigations will be carried out in this regard and action will be taken to inform Sri Lanka about it,” the assertion stated, amidst the unprecedented financial disaster and subsequent political turmoil confronted by the nation.

    Follow Sri Lanka Economic Crisis Live News Updates right here

    “However, the said information and all information received by the intelligence and security forces in connection with national security will be duly investigated and all further steps are taken to strengthen the security while informing the respective security forces on the same,” the assertion added.

    In a “special statement” issued on Tuesday, the defence ministry had requested most of the people to tell particulars of felony actions equivalent to illegal mobs/violent teams and incidents of damaging public/personal property, looting and assault from any a part of the island to its hotlines.

    Quoting police sources, The Hindu newspaper on Friday reported that because the island nation has declared emergency twice amid escalating violent protests, some sections of the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora, with multinational hyperlinks, had been making an attempt to make their presence “felt” within the ongoing clashes between the anti-government protesters and safety forces.

    “Besides planning attacks to mark the Mullivaikal anniversary that falls on May 18, which some groups observe as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, the ex-LTTE cadre were also conspiring to avenge the killings of their leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, newsreader Isai Priya and others, who were killed as the ethnic conflict ended after fierce fighting in 2009,” it stated.

    Graffiti written by anti-government factions is pictured on a car, at a home belonging to Mahinda Rajapaksa’s household, following violent clashes, in Weeraketiya, Sri Lanka. (Reuters)

    Sri Lanka goes by the worst financial disaster since independence in 1948. A crippling scarcity of international reserves has led to lengthy queues for gasoline, cooking fuel and different necessities whereas energy cuts and hovering meals costs heaped distress on the individuals.

    The financial disaster additionally triggered a political disaster in Sri Lanka and demand for the resignation of the highly effective Rajapaksas.

    Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned because the prime minister to make manner for the president to nominate an interim all political social gathering authorities. Former Sri Lankan premier Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed the nation’s new prime minister on Thursday.

  • Sri Lanka Economic Crisis Highlights: New PM Ranil Wickremesinghe inducts 4 ministers into his Cabinet

    Sri Lanka Economic Crisis Highlights:  Sri Lanka lifted a nationwide curfew for 12 hours on Saturday, additional easing tight curbs as new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe sought to type a authorities after clashes with anti-government teams killed 9 individuals, Reuters reported. More than a month of predominantly peaceable protests in opposition to the federal government turned violent this week after supporters of former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stormed an an

    A Sri Lankan courtroom on Friday was moved to direct the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to right away arrest former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and 6 others for alleged felony intimidation and aiding and abetting assaults on peaceable anti-government protesters right here this week, based on PTI.

    Meanwhile, a lot of the Opposition events in Sri Lanka on Friday introduced that they might not be part of the interim authorities led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s however agreed to assist its financial insurance policies from outdoors to assist the debt-ridden island nation’s early restoration.

  • Sri Lankan court docket imposes abroad journey ban on former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, 16 others

    A Sri Lankan court docket on Thursday imposed a ban on abroad journey on former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, his son and MP Namal Rajapaksa and 15 others in view of investigations in opposition to them for the lethal assault on peaceable anti-government protesters in Colombo this week.

    The Fort Magistrate’s Court requested them to give up their passports to the court docket because of the investigations going down on the assaults on the GotaGoGama and MynaGoGama peaceable protest websites on Monday. At least 9 individuals have been killed and over 300 others injured within the violence.

    The magisterial order got here as a response to a request by the police’s legal investigation division who’re conducting the investigations into the Monday’s violence. The court docket issued the bans on 13 legislators representing the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), together with Johnston Fernando, Sanath Nishantha, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, C B Ratnayake, and Sanjeewa Edirimanne.

    Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) of the Western Province Deshabandu Tennakoon can be within the checklist of people that want to stay within the nation for investigations into the violence.

    The group was accused of brutally assaulting protesters reverse Mahinda Rajapaksa’s prime ministerial residence and close to the secretariat of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Mahinda Rajapaksa, in a present of political power, rallied his grassroots supporters to drive him to not resign his place because the prime minister. By then the strain had mounted on him from inside the ruling coalition to resign to make approach for the formation of an interim all-party authorities.

    He made a passionate speech and the charged up supporters attacked the protesters who had been for weeks demanding the resignation of the Rajapaksas, blaming them for the nation’s worst financial disaster.

    Quite a lot of authorities MPs’ properties and places of work have been torched by enraged mobs across the nation Monday and Tuesday, in a wave of spontaneous violence that was triggered by the assault on anti-government protestors by supporters of Mahinda Rajapaksa.

    Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned a number of hours later and a curfew was imposed throughout the nation.

    Mahinda Rajapaksa, identified for his brutal navy marketing campaign in opposition to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) throughout his presidency from 2005 to 2015, noticed his personal residence set on fireplace on Monday. He, alongside together with his spouse and household, fled his official residence – Temple Trees – and took shelter on the naval base in Trincomalee after a collection of lethal assaults on his supporters.

    In a late-night televised tackle to the nation on Wednesday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa mentioned motion can be taken in opposition to the instigators of Monday’s “incident”. Sri Lanka is going through its worst financial disaster since gaining independence from Britain in 1948. The disaster is prompted partly by an absence of overseas forex, which has meant that the nation can not afford to pay for imports of staple meals and gasoline, resulting in acute shortages and really excessive costs.

    Thousands of demonstrators have hit the streets throughout Sri Lanka since April 9 looking for the resignation of the Rajapaksa brothers.

    The highly effective Rajapaksa clan has dominated Sri Lankan politics for years. Gotabaya is the final Rajapaksa member of the family in workplace and the resignation of his brother as prime minister did nothing to placate demonstrators or carry calm within the island nation.

  • Lanka’s ex-PM Wickremesinghe, with one seat in Parliament, might return to premiership: Reports

    Sri Lanka’s former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has only one seat within the 225-member Parliament, may turn out to be the subsequent premier, media reviews mentioned on Thursday, amidst the worst financial disaster within the debt-ridden island nation.

    The 73-year-old United National Party (UNP) chief held talks with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday and is anticipated to satisfy him once more on Thursday, the Colombo Page newspaper reported.

    Wickremesinghe, who has served because the nation’s prime minister for 4 instances, was in October 2018 fired from the publish of prime minister by then President Maithripala Sirisena. However, he was reinstalled because the prime minister by Sirisena after two months.

    According to political sources, members of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), a piece of the primary Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and several other different events have expressed their assist to point out majority for Wickremesinghe in Parliament, it mentioned.

    The report mentioned that Wickremesinghe might be sworn in as the brand new prime minister on Thursday or Friday.

    UNP chairman Vajira Abeywardena has mentioned that Wickremesinghe will be capable to get a majority in Parliament after being sworn in as the brand new prime minister, changing Mahinda Rajapaksa, who resigned on Monday.

    The UNP, the oldest get together within the nation, had one only one seat within the final parliamentary polls in 2020.

    In a late-night televised deal with to the nation, the President on Wednesday refused to give up however promised to nominate a brand new Prime Minister and a younger Cabinet this week which might introduce key constitutional reforms to curb his powers, amid protests over the nation’s worst financial disaster that ousted his elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa who’s underneath safety at a naval base following violent assaults on his aides.

    Sri Lanka is going through its worst financial disaster since gaining independence from Britain in 1948. The disaster is brought about partly by an absence of overseas forex, which has meant that the nation can’t afford to pay for imports of staple meals and gasoline, resulting in acute shortages and really excessive costs.

    Thousands of demonstrators have hit the streets throughout Sri Lanka since April 9 searching for the resignation of the Rajapaksa brothers.

  • Former Sri Lanka PM Rajapaksa, 16 others barred from travelling abroad

    Former Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and 16 different politicians have been banned from travelling abroad by a Sri Lankan Court. This journey ban was imposed because it appeared that the 17 people conspired and deliberate assaults on peaceable protesters on May 9.

    A Sri Lankan court docket issued a journey ban on former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and 16 of his political allies. (File photograph)

    A Sri Lankan court docket on Thursday imposed a journey ban on former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, his son Namal Rajapaksa and 15 others in view of investigations in opposition to them for the lethal assault on anti-government protesters in Colombo this week.

    The Fort Magistrate’s Court barred them from touring abroad as a result of investigations going down on the assaults on the GotaGoGama and MynaGoGama peaceable protest websites on Monday, News 1st web site reported.

    The order was additionally imposed on parliamentarians Johnston Fernando, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Sanjeewa Edirimanne, Kanchana Jayaratne, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, CB Ratnayake, Sampath Athukorala, Renuka Perera, Sanath Nishantha, Senior DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon amongst others.

    The Attorney General had requested a journey ban on the 17 people, citing that they must be current in Sri Lanka for the investigations on the assaults on GotaGoGama and MynaGogama as it seems that they conspired and deliberate these assaults.

    Violence erupted in Sri Lanka on Monday after supporters of Mahinda Rajapaksa attacked peaceable anti-government protesters demanding his ouster over the nation’s worst financial disaster that led to acute shortages of staple meals, gasoline and energy.

    NEW PM TO TAKE OATH TODAY

    Meanwhile, Ranil Wickremesinghe is prone to take oath as the brand new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka at the moment, on May 12.

    United National Party (UNP) chief, Ranil Wickremesinghe, will take oaths because the PM at 6.30 pm at the moment, his occasion confirmed.

    Wickremesinghe, who held closed-door discussions with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa final night, will take oaths as the brand new PM. After taking the oaths, Wickremesinghe will go to a temple in Colombo and thereafter assume his duties.