Image: Reuters Berita 24 English - Thursday, a day after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives to avoid a popular revolt agai...
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| Image: Reuters |
Berita 24 English - Thursday, a day after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives to avoid a popular revolt against an economic crisis blamed on his government's poor management, Sri Lankans awaited his resignation.
Rajapaksa was anticipated to travel to Singapore next, however it was unclear where he would end up. More protests followed his decision on Wednesday to name his ally, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, as interim president. Protesters stormed the premier's office and demanded that he resign as well.
Rajapaksa had frequently promised to retire as speaker of the house on Wednesday, but as of early Thursday, his resignation letter had still not been delivered, according to an aide to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.
According to hospital sources, at least 45 people were taken to the hospital during a standoff on Wednesday night near the parliament building between riot police and protestors who were calling for the removal of both Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe.
A 26-year-old protester who was hospitalised after being tear-gassed passed away from breathing problems, according to local media.
Police spokesman Nalin Thalduwa told Reuters that "some of the demonstrators who had assembled outside the parliament building have now dispersed." The environment is currently peaceful.
He claimed to be unaware of the number of hospitalizations.
The interim president had enforced a curfew over the night, but it was lifted early on Thursday, according to Thalduwa.
On a military plane early on Wednesday, Rajapaksa, his wife, and two bodyguards departed from the primary international airport close to Colombo. He was reportedly waiting for a private plane to Singapore, according to Maldivian media.
Reuters was unable to verify his travel arrangements.
Wickremesinghe is the party's top pick, a top ruling party source told Reuters, though no decision has been made. Sri Lanka's parliament is set to name a new full-time president next week.
Hundreds of thousands of people occupied government buildings in Colombo last weekend as part of protests over Sri Lanka's greatest economic crisis since it gained independence from Britain in 1948. The protests blamed the Rajapaksas and their allies for rampant inflation, shortages, and corruption.
