Sri Lanka
Rajapaksa ally named PM in Sri Lanka as protest site cleared
An ally of the Rajapaksa political family was appointed Friday as Sri Lanka’s prime minister, hours after security forces cleared the main protest site occupied for months by demonstrators angry at the Rajapaksas over the country’s economic collapse.
New President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was elected by lawmakers and sworn into office earlier this week, appointed his school classmate Dinesh Gunawardena to succeed himself. Gunawardena is 73 and belongs to a prominent political family.
Sri Lankans have taken to the streets for months demanding their leaders resign over an economic crisis that has left the island nations’ 22 million people short of essentials like medicine, food and fuel.
The protests forced out former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last week. His family has ruled Sri Lanka for most of the last two decades, but public outrage over the economic crisis forced several family members to leave ministry posts earlier in the crisis.
Gunawardena ’s appointment came several hours after security forces made several arrests and cleared a protest camp near the presidential palace in the capital, Colombo, where demonstrators have gathered for the past 104 days.
Read: Sri Lankan forces make arrests, clear main protest site
Army and police personnel arrived in trucks and buses around midnight, removing tents and protest banners. They blocked off roads leading to the site and carried long poles.
The security forces were witnessed beating up at least two journalists. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka, the main lawyers’ body in the country, also said at least two lawyers were assaulted when they went to the protest site to offer their counsel. Its statement Friday called for a halt to the “unjustified and disproportionate actions” of armed forces against civilians.
On Monday, when he was then the acting president, Wickremesinghe declared a state of emergency that gave him broad authority to act in the interest of public security and order. Authorities have broad power to search premises and detain people, and Wickremesinghe can change or suspend any law.
On Friday, he issued a notice under the state of emergency calling out the armed forces to maintain law and order nationwide. The emergency must be reviewed by Parliament regularly to decide whether to extend it or let it expire.
Election of unpopular Sri Lankan PM invites more turmoil
Sri Lankan lawmakers on Wednesday elected the unpopular prime minister as their new president, a choice that risked reigniting turmoil in the South Asian nation reeling from economic collapse and months of round-the-clock protests.
The crisis has already forced out one leader, and a few hundred protesters quickly gathered after the vote to express their outrage that Ranil Wickremesinghe — a six-time prime minister whom they see as part of the problematic political establishment — would stay in power.
While the choice invited more protests, lawmakers apparently considered Wickremesinghe a safe pair of hands, a politician with deep experience who could lead Sri Lanka out of the crisis. He has spent 45 years in Parliament and led recent talks seeking a bailout for the bankrupt island nation.
Sri Lankans have taken to the street for months to demand their top leaders step down as the country spiraled into economic chaos that left its 22 million people struggling with shortages of essentials, including medicine, fuel and food. After demonstrators stormed the presidential palace and several other government buildings last week, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled and then resigned.
Much of the protesters' ire is focused on Rajapaksa and his family’s political dynasty, which ruled Sri Lanka for most of the past two decades. But many also blame Wickremesinghe for protecting Rajapaksa. During demonstrations last week, crowds set his personal residence on fire and occupied his office.
Wednesday's vote means Wickremesinghe — who was also Rajapaksa’s finance minister and became acting president after the leader fled — will finish the presidential term ending in 2024. He can now also appoint a new prime minister.
“I need not tell you what state our country is in," Wickremesinghe, 73, told fellow lawmakers after his victory was announced. "People are not expecting the old politics from us. They expect us to work together.”
He pleaded for the country to move on: “Now that the election is over, we have to end this division.”
Read: Wickremesinghe elected president in crisis-hit Sri Lanka
But protesters flocked to the presidential residence instead, chanting, “Ranil, go home.”
“We are very sad, very disappointed with the 225 parliament members who we elected to speak for us, which they have not done,” said Visaka Jayawware, a performance artist in the crowd. “We will keep fighting for the people of Sri Lanka. We have to ask for a general election.”
Wickremesinghe has wide experience in diplomatic and international affairs and oversaw the bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund.
But many voters view him with suspicion since he was appointed prime minister by Rajapaksa in May, in hopes he would restore stability.
The protesters accuse Rajapaksa and his powerful family of siphoning money from government coffers and of hastening the country’s collapse by mismanaging the economy. The family has denied the corruption allegations, but the former president acknowledged that some of his policies contributed to Sri Lanka’s meltdown.
“The struggle will continue until our demands are met. Wickremesinghe "doesn’t have a mandate to rule the country,” said Nemel Jayaweera, a human resources professional. “We will oppose him.”
Still, the ruling party's majority in Parliament swept Wickremesinghe to victory with 134 votes. Populist Dullas Alahapperuma, a longtime ally of Rajapaksa and also a minister in his government, secured 82 votes. A Marxist candidate netted three votes.
The vote, shown on national television, was a decorous, solemn affair. While the balloting was secret, as the results were announced, lawmakers thumped their tables in support of their candidates.
After the vote, some supporters celebrated Wickremesinghe’s win in the streets. He will be sworn in Thursday.
Only a few lawmakers had publicly said they would vote for Wickremesinghe given the widespread hostility against him. But dozens loyal to Rajapaksa had been expected to back him because he had assured them he would severely punish protesters who burned politicians’ homes in the unrest.
On Monday, in his role as acting president, Wickremesinghe declared a state of emergency that gave him broad authority to act in the interest of public security and order. Authorities can carry out searches and detain people, and Wickremesinghe can also change or suspend any law.
The political turmoil in Sri Lanka has only worsened the economic disaster. But Wickremesinghe said Monday that negotiations with the IMF were drawing close to a conclusion, and talks on help from other countries had also progressed. He also said the government has taken steps to resolve shortages of fuel and cooking gas.
Hours before Wednesday's vote, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told financial magazine Nikkei Asia that the organization hoped to complete the rescue talks “as quickly as possible.”
As prime minister, Wickremesinghe delivered weekly addresses in Parliament cautioning that the path out of the crisis would be difficult, while also pledging to overhaul a government that increasingly has concentrated power under the presidency.
Presidents in Sri Lanka are normally elected by the public. The responsibility falls to Parliament only if the presidency becomes vacant before the term officially ends.
That has happened only once before in Sri Lanka, in 1993, when then-Prime Minister Dingiri Banda Wijetunga was chosen by Parliament uncontested after former President Ranasinghe Premadasa, father of the current opposition leader, was assassinated.
Sri Lankan prime minister, 2 rivals in presidential race
Sri Lanka’s prime minister and acting president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, will face two rivals in a parliamentary vote Wednesday on who will succeed the ousted leader who fled the country last week amid huge protests triggered by its economic collapse.
Wickremesinghe, a six-time prime minister, is a seasoned politician with wide experience in diplomatic and international affairs and has been leading crucial talks on an economic bailout package with the International Monetary Fund.
He is backed by members of the fragmented ruling coalition, but is unpopular among voters who view him as a holdover from the previous government that led the country into economic catastrophe. The 73-year-old Wickremesinghe was appointed prime minister by deposed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in May to help restore Sri Lanka’s international credibility.
The leading challenger, former government minister Dullas Alahapperuma, was nominated Tuesday by a breakaway faction of the ruling coalition after opposition leader Sajith Premadasa withdrew and said he would support him.
“For the greater good of my country that I love and the people I cherish I hereby withdraw my candidacy for the position of president,” Premadasa said in a Twitter post.
Read: Sri Lanka's political turmoil sows worries for recovery
Marxist party leader Anura Dissanayake, 53, was also expected to contest Wednesday’s parliamentary vote. He also ran for president in 2019.
Rajapaksa fled the country after protesters outraged by the crisis stormed his official residence and occupied other key public buildings. He later submitted his resignation via an email to the speaker of Parliament.
Opponents of Wickremesinghe’s candidacy fear he represents an extension of the Rajapaksa rule and a potential comeback for the beleaguered political family.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition against Wickremesinghe’s status as a lawmaker, clearing the path for him to run for president.
He succeeded Rajapaksa’s younger brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, as prime minister after he stepped down in response to massive public pressure.
Wickremesinghe also took on the role of finance minister, becoming the public face of the country’s economic woes. He has delivered weekly addresses in Parliament, raised taxes and pledged to overhaul a government that increasingly has concentrated power under the presidency. Ultimately, observers say, he has lacked the political heft and public support to get the job done.
Alahapperuma, 63, is viewed as a populist, with good public relations and communications skills. Even though he is a former government spokesman and has served in various posts including minister of information and mass media, minister of sports and minister of power under previous governments he previously was not considered for top leadership posts.
A son of school administrators, he studied political science at the University of Iowa but did not earn a degree. He is married to a popular singer, Pradeepa Dharmadasa.
Students and political activists said they planned protests Tuesday. Some intimidating posts circulating on social media warned lawmakers against returning to their constituencies if they vote for Wickremesinghe.
Read: Sri Lanka's Parliament readies to accept names for president
After the protesters briefly took over public buildings last week in startlingly dramatic scenes, Parliament was heavily guarded Tuesday by hundreds of soldiers, its entry points barricaded. Staff at Parliament and reporters were thoroughly searched before they were allowed to enter while navy boats patrolled the lake surrounding the building.
Sri Lanka’s economy has collapsed, its foreign exchange reserves depleted, and it has suspended repayment of foreign loans. Its population is struggling with shortages of essentials including medicine, fuel and food while the government negotiates a bailout package with the IMF. It is preparing a loan restructuring plan as a prelude to talks.
Rajapaksa’s exit last week marked at least a temporary dismantling of the Rajapaksa dynasty that had ruled Sri Lanka for most of the past two decades. Before the recent upheavals, six family members held high positions including president, prime minister and finance minister. All have lost their seats after public protests started in late March.
Pakistan makes positive start, chasing 342 to beat Sri Lanka
Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq got Pakistan away to a positive start chasing a target of 342 for victory against Sri Lanka, reaching 68 without loss at lunch on Day 4 of the first test.
Pakistan still need a further 274 runs to take a lead in the two-match series and will have to set a record to reach the target. The highest successful fourth-innings run chase at Galle is 268 set by Sri Lanka against New Zealand in 2019.
Abdullah and Imam had some nervous moments in the morning session Tuesday. Imam was given out LBW to Kasun Rajitha on three but the decision was overturned on review. In Rajitha’s next over, Dinesh Chandimal, running backward from extra-cover, put down a tough chance off Imam.
There was a loud shout for LBW against Abdullah and although Sri Lanka reviewed the original not out decision, the batter survived by narrowest of margins. He remained unbeaten on 41 at lunch and Imam was not out on 25.
Read:Sri Lanka's Parliament readies to accept names for president
Sri Lanka was dismissed for 337 in its second innings, adding eight runs in four overs in the morning after resuming on 329-9.
The hosts were confident that they had enough runs on the board and the only anticipation was Dinesh Chandimal reaching his hundred. He was on 86 overnight and was left stranded on 94 not out when Naseem Shah bowled Prabath Jayasuriya.
The series is being played against the backdrop of an economic and political crisis engulfing Sri Lanka.
The second test, scheduled to start next Sunday, was switched from Colombo to Galle because Cricket Sri Lanka decided not to take any chances with potential political protests in the capital.
The venue switch was confirmed around the time Ranil Wickremesinghe, who became acting President last week after Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled abroad and resigned after months-long mass protests over the country’s economic collapse, declared a state of emergency on Monday.
Sri Lanka is experiencing its worst economic crisis since independence, with severe shortages of essential items such as fuel, cooking gas and medicine.
Is the pro-Chinese Left behind the Sri Lanka agitation?
The media has focused on the fleeing Rajapakses, gate crashing of official residences and torching one or two but not much on the internal maths of the agitation. Reports suggest that the movement is not monolithic and many forces including the hard Left are behind this.
Activist middle class may have been the TV face of the crowd but the muscle has largely come from a party called the Front Line Socialist Party (FLSP). It’s a splinter e- of the ultra-Left and ultra-Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), which had itself mounted two armed revolts against the government in the past, comes in.
India media "India Narrative" says, "that FLSP has been a key player in giving political direction to what had started at Colombo’s Galle Face as spontaneous protests against a virtual economic meltdown."
“Extreme measures by the government to promote organic farming had already hit farm production, which plummeted. As in the case of Tahrir square in Egypt during the Arab Spring, the Galle Face became the sanctum sanctorum and the ground-zero of a popular uprising.”
Read:Sri Lanka : Has the colonial democracy model run its course ?
India-China factor ?
Indian media has now begun to write on the issue more because some fear the crowd is really in the FLSP hands and that this party is largely funded by China. This means the Chinese wanted the Rajapakses to go, a group once China’s darling and they succeeded. And China remaining such a big player in Sri Lanka means, one rules only if one has good equations with Beijing. If China is still calling the shots India will feel threatened.
India has intervened in Sri Lanka several times beginning from the Tamil insurgency days and doesn’t have a great track record. Rahul Gandhi’s assassination was a factor behind this nor very popular.
The recent round of speculation on invasion gained clout with the remarks made by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy who tweeted on May 10 that the Indian Army must be sent to “restore Constitutional sanity”. Swamy has been fringed for a while and had advised invading Maldives as well as Bangladesh before. He is not taken very seriously but he does say what is in many political hearts and can’t reach the lips. Like a policy level Nupur Sharma of sorts. Both the Government and the BJP were quick to deny such statements.
A nervous Sri Lanka ruling class ?
Public feelings against the random crowds acting at will has now started to create unease and JVP memories are also a factor. The extreme left position of FLSP also has been a factor in getting MPs to recognize that greater internal chaos awaits them if they don’t act quickly. The lawyers, businessmen and professional bodies have spoken on behalf of law and order and the election date is being taken seriously. But it’s also possible that deal making with the FLSP may be on some cards. Meanwhile, many have spoken of the “invasion threats” as an impetus to start elections seriously.
FLSP through the Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF) -- a confederation of around 70 students' unions, has great influence on Sri Lankan agitation politics. They basically forced the Rajapakse hand through hard agitation. Trade Unions have also supported the FLSP in general making them a major factor in Sri Lanka .
Its extreme views probably rules it out of any immediate future coalition role, but it’s on the street, has clout and intends to continue making prolonged unrest in the future a real fear for Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka acting president declares emergency amid protests
Sri Lanka’s acting president on Monday declared a state of emergency giving him broad authority amid growing protests demanding his resignation two days before the country’s lawmakers are set to elect a new president.
Ranil Wickremesinghe became acting president on Friday after his predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, fled abroad on Wednesday and resigned after months-long mass protests over the country’s economic collapse.
Wickremesinghe’s move to impose a state of emergency comes as protests demanding his resignation too have continued in most parts of the country, with some protesters burning his effigy.
Lawmakers who met on Saturday began the process of electing a new leader to serve the rest of the term abandoned by Rajapaksa. Nominations for the election of the new president will be heard on Tuesday, and if there is more than one candidate the lawmakers will vote on Wednesday.
Read: Sri Lanka begins choosing leader to replace ex-president
The emergency decree issued by Wickremesinghe invokes sections of the Public Security Ordinance that allow him to make regulations in the interests of public security, the preservation of public order, the suppression of mutiny, riot or civil commotion, or for the maintenance of essential supplies.
Under the emergency regulations, Wickremesinghe can authorize detentions, take possession of any property and search any premises. He can also change or suspend any law.
The South Indian island nation is engulfed in an unprecedented economic crisis that has triggered political uncertainty.
Sri Lanka has run short of money to pay for imports of basic necessities such as food, fertilizer, medicine and fuel for its 22 million people. Its rapid economic decline has been all the more shocking because before the crisis the economy had been expanding, with a growing, comfortable middle class.
Sri Lanka is seeking help from the International Monetary Fund and other creditors, but top officials say its finances are so poor that even obtaining a bailout has proven difficult.
The economic hardships led to political upheaval and widespread protests demanding the government led by Rajapaksa step down. Although many ministers resigned in April, Rajapaksa had remained in power until last week.
The main protests have occurred in the capital, Colombo, where protesters occupied the front of the president’s office for more than 100 days.
The protesters accuse Rajapaksa and his powerful political family of siphoning money from government coffers and of hastening the country’s collapse by mismanaging the economy. The family has denied the corruption allegations, but Rajapaksa acknowledged that some of his policies contributed to Sri Lanka’s meltdown.
Rajapaksa flew first to the Maldives on Wednesday and then to Singapore.
Sri Lanka : Has the colonial democracy model run its course ?
The people’s movement in Sri Lanka called “Aragalaya” has thrown out a powerful and corrupt political dynasty like the Rajapakses. It has overthrown many barricades, both physical and political and ultimately held the street which has now become a factor even in the Presidential elections expected to be held on the 20th. But is this a conflict between what the movement says and what political institutions stand for?. Are street movements the answer to failed politics? Or they say that conventional politics has failed in the developing South ?.
Despite the popularity across religious and ethnic lines – a sensitive issue in South Asia in general and Sri Lanka in particular – the movement is fundamentally middle class. The leaders are priests, digital activists and social protestors. Dependent largely on social media, it's fundamentally located in that space which saw the Arab spring grow and then die. Closer to home it’s what produced Shahbagh which has a great history of youth spirit and energy but ultimately was taken over by the ruling party. The limits of urban middle class protest are clear. And Sri Lanka may be facing that all too going by what is happening.
Read:Sri Lanka: Will the army be forced to act?
Argalaya realities
"Aragalaya has to accept whoever comes into power next. You cannot keep protesting," one lawmaker told organizers in a meeting last week. Thus the movement is now in conflict with the law making body and system. The conventional political state is beginning to assert itself as the ruling class which is always upper in nature finds its space limited by the crowds.
Questions are however rising about the nature and structure of the movement. “The strength of the Aragalaya movement has been its leaderless, organic nature. It's what makes it so good at spontaneous mass uprisings - but it also makes it difficult to predict or control, “ says the BBC. Some leaders have said that they were not in favour of storming the Palace as it makes them look “anarchic”.
However, Ranil’s denouncement of them as “fascists” has made them look much better since anything the old leadership says is suspect and has no legitimacy.
But even as the agitations were metaphorically wined and dined by global media, few mentions were made of the long queues on the streets near supply centres of essentials including petrol. That is a problem which won’t go away no matter who wins the elections or how big the protesting crowd is.
Can politics deliver?
Sri Lanka is a good example of failed politics. The genesis of current unrest goes back to the management of the Tamil war, a problem of Sinhala nationalism based politics. Colombo won the war under the Rajapakses but as history shows lost Sri Lanka. And it seems so did the Sinhalese. Just as nationalism based governance –political- has a weak record so has the trappings of colonial inheritance such as what goes in the name of parliamentary democracy including elections. Rajapakse elections were not walk overs so elections as saviours may be overestimated. It keeps the upper class in perpetual power but doesn’t solve problems. As entire South Asia shows, following the colonial model hasn’t led to universal prosperity including in India.
Both Sri Lanka and the rest of South Asia may need to start examining other options. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is in for a hard time from which no election can deliver right now.
Pakistan lose openers after Sri Lanka post 222 in 1st Test
Pakistan reached 24 for two at stumps on day one in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings total of 222 all out in the first Test Saturday.
The visitors trail Sri Lanka by 198 runs with eight wickets in hand at Galle International Stadium.
Having elected to bat first, Sri Lanka's batting collapsed as they slumped to 133 for eight but the lower order fought back to enable them to get to 222 on a good batting surface.
Sri Lanka was in danger of being shot out for less than 150, but the last two wickets produced 89 runs to salvage some pride.
Dinesh Chandimal, who had a career-best 206 not out earlier this week to inspire Sri Lanka's innings and 39-run win over Australia, came to the team's rescue again by top scoring with 76. The former captain added 44 runs for the ninth wicket with Maheesh Theekshana.
The stand was broken when Chandimal was spectacularly caught by Yasir Shah off the bowling of Hasan Ali. Chandimal's 76 came in 115 deliveries with 10 fours and one six.
"They are playing five specialist bowlers, so whenever someone comes on to bowl, he's fresh," Chandimal said of the disciplined Pakistani attack.
"This pitch is something in between what we had got for the first and second Tests against Australia," he added. "When you have got to 30 or 40, when the ball pitches in certain areas, it's easier for you to go for your shots. On this wicket, even when you are settled, you can't play with too much confidence."
Read: SL vs PAK Test Series 2022: Fixtures, Venues, H2H Records
After Chandimal's dismissal, Theekshana added 45 runs with No. 11 Kasun Rajitha. Theekshana was the last man dismissed when he was caught behind. He made 35 off 65 deliveries with four fours and a six. It was the No. 10's career-best score in first-class cricket.
Shaheen Afridi bowled superbly to finish with four for 58. The left-arm quick, who dismissed Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne (1) cheaply, provided the breakthrough when a partnership was building between Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva (14). His pace was too much for Sri Lanka's batsmen as both Karunaratne and de Silva dragged deliveries onto their stumps.
The very next over after claiming the wicket of de Silva, Shaheen had wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella caught at gully. As the last pair provided stubborn resistance, he was called up again and he broke the stand with the first delivery of his new spell.
Yasir Shah and Hasan Ali finished with two wickets apiece. Leg-spinner Yasir is making a comeback after injuries sidelined him since August last year.
After posting a record total of 554 earlier in the week against Australia at the same venue, Sri Lanka's batting flopped Saturday as they lost four wickets each in the first two sessions before a fine rearguard action by the tail.
During Pakistan's innings, Sri Lanka got off to a good start as Kasun Rajitha trapped Imam-ul-Haq leg before wicket for two.
Left-arm orthodox spinner Prabath Jayasuriya deceived Abdullah Shafique with a straight one to have him leg before wicket for 13.
The two-match series got underway in the southern coastal town of Galle despite Sri Lanka's economic crisis. There are severe shortages of essential items like fuel, cooking gas and medicine while there are long hours of power cuts throughout the island.
There have been nationwide protests, which forced Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee and resign as president.
With Parliament set to meet next week to elect a new president, more protests are expected in the capital Colombo and cricket officials were looking at the possibility of shifting the second Test from Colombo to Galle.
Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa arrives in Singapore
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flew into Singapore from the Maldives on Thursday evening, the Straits Times reported.
The Singaporean newspaper said Rajapaksa arrived on board a Saudi flight, which landed at Singapore's Changi airport at 7:17 pm local time (1117 GMT).
Also read: Sri Lankan leader leaves Maldives, protesters leave offices
It is not clear how long he will stay in Singapore or if he has another destination in mind, the newspaper added.
Rajapaksa left Sri Lanka for the Maldives on Wednesday, just hours before his resignation was expected to be announced, amid a severe economic crisis that has sparked protests in the country.
Also read: Sri Lanka protests: One dead and 84 injured, say hospital officials
Sri Lankan Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena confirmed on Wednesday that a new president will be elected on July 20 through a vote in parliament.
Sri Lanka: Will the army be forced to act?
The sight of crowds gathering and overrunning the security cordon at the Presidential Palace, torching the PM’s residence and generally taking over the streets have warmed many hearts as they are archetypal scenes of “people’s power” movements anywhere. Even in Bangladesh, when Ershad was overthrown in December 1990, the vice president's residence was attacked and trashed. But before it went further, political parties backed by the army reined the crowds in. In Sri Lanka the situation is much more desperate and the crowd control of the political variety is missing. The people are far more desperate and the economic conditions –the main trigger- much worse than feared.
In Bangladesh which has a long history of military takeovers, the arch villain Gen. Ershad of 1990 was an army man who was arrested and taken in. The army was also not interested in taking over. The balance of power between the civil and military forces was positive and Bangladesh went into a new phase of electoral politics with the Neutral Caretaker Government phase that lasted from 1991 to 2007. In fact the movement was against the prevailing military regime, and conducted by separate political factions coming together to achieve a common objective. In Sri Lanka the entire polity has lost credibility. The scenario is therefore different and the most significant marker is the absence of credible political options. Do they exist in Sri Lanka today ?
The Rajapaksa mess
The Rajapaksas have basically considered Sri Lanka their family business. And it was not on governance that they based their claim but defeating the Tamil insurrection. It was a military victory that made them who they are and the pride they claim is shared by the SL army as well. At this point of time, the army had not deserted them and when the Prez Rajapaksa couldn’t fly out, it was an army plane that flew him to sanctuary in the Maldives.
But does the army want to move in? Going by current statements, it’s not a yes. But…
Read:Did eco-activist Vandana Shiva ruin Sri Lankan agriculture?
The last week’s events
The events have begun to peak in the last few weeks till it’s now very much out of control of the police and the armed forces have been forced to get involved. It had been on for some time. On May 11, an army spokesperson strongly refuted any takeover by it.
“When there is a dangerous situation in the country, powers are given to the military to deal with it," Kamal Gunaratne, the secretary of Sri Lanka's defence ministry, told a press conference in response to the claims. Don't ever think that we are trying to capture power, the military has no such intentions."
“Gunaratne was a top field commander in the final battle that defeated Sri Lanka's separatist Tamil Tigers movement in 2009, ending a decades-old civil war. His superior at the time was Gotabaya Rajapaksa, now serving as the nation's president.” ( Indian Express May 11 )
But the situation is changing rapidly and on July 10, NDTV reported that the Sri Lankan Army chief General Shavendra Silva had sought people's support to maintain peace as Sri Lanka battles a super crisis. General Shavendra Silva requested Sri Lankans to support the armed forces and the police as the public ransacked the Presidential palace.
Following the protests, President Rajapaksa informed Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena that he will step down on July 13, while Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said he would resign as soon as an all-party government was ready to take over. The Speaker would become the acting President after Mr Rajapaksa resigns. Later, an election among MPs will be held to elect a new President, reports said.
On 13th July the situation reached a point when civil and police forces could no longer sustain law and order. The media reported that the Sri Lanka army took over state TV and radio stations. As the police crumbles and given the situation unable to go beyond tear gas, the army is increasingly moving in to fill the gap.
Whether this will mean a total take over or not depends a lot on how the parliament manages to establish itself. Until now they haven’t. The parliament however also knows that the army is pro-Rajapaksa, having fought the Tamils under him, with professional links and connections.
The army hasn’t liked stepping in, whatever bit it has but circumstances have pushed it to do so. Will circumstances push the army beyond a point of its own reluctance?