Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives on a military jet in face of a public revolt against his government for mishandling country's economy
Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said has not the resignation letter of the embattled President who departed from Sri Lanka hours before he was expected to resign
Rajapaksa landed at the Velana International Airport in the Maldives early Wednesday
The president of Sri Lanka fled the country, days after protesters stormed his home and office and the official residence of his prime minister amid a three-month economic crisis
Sri Lanka's former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa, who is the youngest brother of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, was stopped from boarding a flight to Dubai on Monday evening, local media reported
The Minister said New Delhi's commitment and support is for the friendly people of the island nation and it wanted to help them to go through a very difficult phase of their life.
Rupee settlement will increase flexibility
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Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is due to resign from his post on Wednesday, was stopped from fleeing the crisis-hit nation as airport immigration staff blocked his exit
The economic crisis which is the worst in Sri Lanka's history has prompted an acute shortage of essential items like fuel
The rupee's use in trade settlement would help the RBI in conserving foreign exchange. India's forex reserves have fallen by more than Rs 1 trillion since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war
Sri Lanka's massive victory over Australia in the second Test at Galle has had major ramifications on the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) standings
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for dialogue to ensure a smooth transition of government in Sri Lanka and find sustainable solutions to the economic crisis."I stand in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka & call for dialogue to ensure a smooth transition of government & to find sustainable solutions to the economic crisis," Guterres tweeted."I condemn all acts of violence and call for those responsible to be held accountable," he added.On Monday, the Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq said that the UN Secretary was closely following the developments in Sri Lanka, and stands in solidarity with the country.Notably, Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Saturday agreed to step down from his post. He said that he will step down from the presidency on July 13 amid economic and political instability. On Monday, Sri Lanka's speaker of parliament said political party leaders have decided to elect a new president .
In a recent interview at the ruling party's office in Colombo, which was vandalized by a mob during the May 9 violence, Namal said that Gotabaya "should complete his term and then go"
Governor P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, who has been holding bailout talks with the IMF since taking office in April, had told reporters in May he could resign if there was no political stability
Exchange rate of two trading partners may be market determined, says central bank
India will have to take the lead
Amid the political and economic unrest in Sri Lanka, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa met with the tri-force commanders and the Chief of Defence staff, local media reported.Rajapaksa who was aboard a tri-force naval vessel within the territorial waters of Sri Lanka following the July 9 protest, returned back to land on Monday and met the tri-force commanders and Chief of Defense staff in the morning, reported Daily Mirror.Sri Lankan protesters broke into Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's private residence on Saturday and set it on fire, angered by the unprecedented economic crisis. The protestors also took control of the President's house and turned it into a tourist hub.Earlier, on Saturday, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced in a press conference that President Rajapaksa will resign from his post on July 13. Several journalists were also attacked by the security forces after which more protestors gathered in the area.Prime Minister Wickremesinghe also announced to step down .
Sri Lanka, which is completely bankrupt and embroiled in a political crisis virtually with no leader, had decided to elect a new President from the Parliament on July 20.
Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is still in the country, Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena's office said, dismissing media reports that the embattled leader may have fled SL