Hundreds of soldiers and police broke up the largest protest camp in Colombo (Sri Lanka’s financial capital) a few hours after the inauguration of new president Ranil Wickremesinghe.
On the night of Thursday to Friday, the security forces displaced the protesters and dismantled the barricades that had been set up near the entrance of the Presidency Secretariat building. The protesters, who had been camped there since the beginning of April, had announced that they would leave the area on Friday afternoon.
According to eyewitnesses cited by the French news agency (AFP), soldiers made several arrests and destroyed tents set up along the boulevard leading to the presidential palace, while police blocked off adjacent streets to prevent protesters from returning.
Sri Lanka’s new president had earlier asked the protesters to leave their positions, warning that otherwise the authorities would evacuate the area by force. He had also declared a state of emergency, giving the military and police expanded powers to arrest suspects and detain them for long periods of time without charge.
Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected president of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, succeeding Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the country after angry protesters stormed his residence and eventually found refuge in Singapore, where he sent a resignation letter.
Government of national unity
The new president of Sri Lanka expressed from the first moment his intention to form a government of national unity. He is called to govern a country plagued by the economic crisis, with huge shortages of food and fuel, having officially declared bankruptcy.
Wickremesinghe, 73, who has served as prime minister six times, is accused by protesters of being a Rajapaksa ally. He declares that he is a “friend of the people”.
One of the favorites for the premiership is a childhood friend of Wickremesinghe’s, Dines Gunawardena, a former public administration minister and staunch supporter of the Rajapaksa dynasty. According to political analysts, there are two other suitors for the prime ministerial position.
President Wickremesinghe wants the new government to include opposition figures, according to sources close to him.
Official Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who supported a rival candidate in Wednesday’s presidential vote in parliament, said in a Twitter post that he met Wickremesinghe and they discussed how the country could be shielded from new “atrocities.” and disasters”.
SOURCE: AMPE
Source: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
