PM Ranil Sworn In As Interim-Prez; A Timeline Of Sri Lanka’s Worst Political Crisis
Colombo, July 15: Amid the island nation’s months long protests over food, fuel shortage and mishandling of economy, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn-in as the interim President on Friday. Wickremesinghe was sworn-in before Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Daily Mirror reported.
#SriLankan Prime Minister #RanilWickremesinghe (@RW_UNP) was sworn-in as the interim President of the island nation.
Photo: IANS (File) pic.twitter.com/qMdu1wzLZB
— IANS (@ians_india) July 15, 2022
Earlier in the day, Sri Lankan Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena officially announced the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. As Gotbaya Rajapaksa had e-mailed his resignation to the Speaker, moments after he arrived in Singapore.
The Speaker said, “As one of the oldest democracies in South Asia, I urge all the political parties and the people to assist to follow the democratic practices and take necessary steps to resolve the current situation.”
Inflation in the crisis-hit country is more than 50 per cent now.
Below shows the timeline of the crisis:Â
April 1: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declares state of emergency after a spate of protests.
April 3: Almost entire Cabinet resigns, isolating President Rajapaksa and his brother-Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
April 5: President Rajapaksa loses parliamentary majority. Emergency lifted. Finance Minister Ali Sabry quits.
April 10: Doctors say they are nearly out of life-saving medicines.
April 12: Sri Lanka announces it is defaulting on its foreign debt of $51 billion.
April 19: Police kill a protester.
May 9: Government loyalists attack peaceful protesters in Colombo. Nine people are killed and hundreds injured in reprisal violence.
Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns as Prime Minister, rescued by troops after protesters storm his residence. He is replaced by Ranil Wickremesinghe.
May 10: Shoot-to-kill orders issued.
June 27: Fuel sales suspended
July 9: President’s house stormed, Rajapaksa flees his official residence in Colombo. Wickremesinghe’s house is set on fire.
July 13: President Rajapaksa flies to the Maldives on a military aircraft.
July 15 (Friday):Â Speaker Of sri Lanka, officially announced the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
July 15: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn-in as the interim President of the island nation on Friday.
Saturday (July 16): The Parliament would be summoned to take nominations for the next President and then to have an election among 225 MPs.
With IANS Inputs…
