World News
Sri Lankan president resigns after fleeing country amid mass protests [Video]
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned a day after fleeing the country amid mass protests.
- Protesters swarmed Rajapaksa’s home and other government offices on Wednesday.
- Rajapaksa has been accused of stealing money from the government for years.
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned Thursday after feeling the country amid an economic crisis in the country.
Sri Lanka’s Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeyweardana made the announcement Friday. The country’s Parliament will convene on Saturday to begin the process of selecting a new president. The country hopes to have a new president within the next seven days.
Rajapaksa fled Sri Lanka Wednesday after protesters swarmed his home and other government offices. The protesters accuse Rajapaksa of stealing money from the government for years. They also accuse his administration of mismanaging the economy causing it to collapse. Rajapaksa has acknowledged that some of his policies contributed to the meltdown.
Months of protests reached a frenzied peak over the weekend when demonstrators stormed the president’s home and office and the official residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. On Wednesday, they seized Wickremesinghe’s office.
The demonstrators initially vowed to hold those places until a new government was in place, but the movement shifted tactics Thursday, apparently concerned that any escalation in violence could undermine their message following clashes the previous night outside the Parliament that left dozens injured.
Rajapaksa’s replacement would serve as president for the remainder of his term, which ends in 2024. The new leader could potentially select a new prime minister, who Parliament would have to approve.
The country of about 22 million people is undergoing a severe foreign exchange shortage, which has limited essential imports of fuel, food and medicine. The shortage has pushed the island into its worst financial situation in 70 years.
Sri Lanka has not been receiving fuel shipments in recent weeks, forcing school closures and limiting petrol and diesel for essential services. Residents are skipping meals to line up for hours for scarce fuel.
Source: The Guardian
Robert Page
July 17, 2022 at 7:36 am
I find it interesting that there is no mention of the real reason for the unrest in Sri Lanka. That is that their government adopted the ridiculous “green energy” policies that the Demorats are trying to sell us here in the US. When you tell a story the least you can do is tell the truth about the real reason for the unrest in prior prosperous countries. Everyone knows and it is not news that Presidents in foreign countries are stealing from their own people and now it is happening here in the US also but that has rarely caused riots and unrest going on like it is today.
Fred
July 17, 2022 at 12:47 pm
Exactly right Mr. Page. I have a contract employee in Sri Lanka who confirms what you said: it’s the stupid new green deal and fake climate change policies that have been forced upon the people for a long time – now they have food shortages, 12 hour/day power outages, no energy/fuel, etc., and the chaos that comes with it. Of course now they’re trying to borrow their way out of it yet again, creating an even bigger crisis. It’s intentional and happening right now in the U.S. as well. The proof is easily available for anyone to see, but sadly only a very very small percentage of the U.S. populace is even bothered to look beyond the propaganda. The sheeple will simply do what they’re told without question until one day *maybe* they realize it’s way too late. Many will never realize each small piece of freedom they submissively and silently gave away out of fear eventually led to their own destruction.
jim
July 17, 2022 at 8:05 am
this chicken shit little man who stole money from his citizens and his country coffers should be hunted down like the fleeing rat he is – he should be caught / found and handed back over to the citizens of that nation- – he sounds just like the ass holes we have in this country in Wash DC – too many names of corruption to mention in Wash DC- but there is a lot
PATTY
July 17, 2022 at 8:23 pm
THIS SOUNDS JUST LIKE AMERICA???????????WASHINGTON DC IS A A SWAMP!!!!!! LOADED WITH SNAKES, AND OTHER CRITERS…..MANY DIFFERENT SIZES AND AND POISONS!!!!!!! WE HAVE SOME WITH HUGH BANK ACCOUNTS AND OTHERS WITH MEDIUM ACCOUNTS………EVERYONE GETS A PIECE OF THE PIE!!!!!!!!! IT IS CALLED CORRUPTION!!!!!!!!! FIND WHO HAS THE MOST?????????? IT SHOULD BE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE……AS THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE DEMANDED FROM TRUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY HAVE ALWAYS SAID….”NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW”!!!!!!!!!!! BUT YET WE FIND SOME WHO ARE???????????? IF THE SHOE FITS WE’LL KNOW!!!!!!!!
Bill Giammo
July 18, 2022 at 1:19 pm
Sounds just like America / Washington DC Swamp is like no other, these people take an oath to serve & protect the people, legal people of any race and color. You will see this in America, a forced takeover because they’re so greedy as politicians and none of them care to protect “we the people”…. All they want is the benefits from all their corruption and money laundering.
Joe Biden has made it very clear that he is not for the people or our once beautiful America, if any average American pulled the shit show that Biden and his garbage administration has pulled, we’d be in prison in-defiantly. Why should it be any different for the Rats, Rino’s and Snakes, they should be stripped of their wealth to be put towards reducing the national deficit, and on conviction be installed in the border patrol to deal with one small piece of the corruption they’ve created. These politicians are a menace to our society.