“The prime minister as interim president declared a state of emergency (in the entire country) and imposed a curfew in the western province,” Vikremesingh’s spokesman announced, according to Reuters.
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The prime minister became the new head of state under the Sri Lankan constitution as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who had fled the country, resigned.
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The state of emergency was declared after thousands of protesters in the capital on Wednesday marched from the main protest site at Galle Face Green, home to the president’s residence, to the prime minister’s office on Flower Road, 20 minutes away.
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The police intervened against the demonstrators marching to the prime minister’s office and the parliament. She used tear gas.
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The mob eventually reached the prime minister’s office, but tried to break down the gate. The office is guarded by heavily armed security guards and police officers.
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Sri Lankan police used tear gas against the protesters.
Photo: Rafiq Maqbool, ČTK/AP
The crowd gradually grew. Protesters warned they would not leave until the future of the bankrupt country was resolved. They demand the resignation of the prime minister and elections.
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According to them, the dispatch of helicopters that fly over their heads and the deployment of police forces show that the regime intends to continue to intimidate the residents.
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Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Vickremesingh
Photo: Eranga Jayawardena, ČTK/AP
Virkemesing refuses to resign, saying that he wants to leave only after the formation of a new government, so that there is no anarchy in the country.
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The protesters are also bothered by the fact that after the departure of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the prime minister automatically becomes the acting president for thirty days. Gotabaja Rajapaksa promised over the weekend that he would resign on Wednesday. He flew out on Wednesday and resigned.
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Sri Lanka is rocked by protests because the country is on the verge of bankruptcy, defaulting on debts, unable to buy fuel, so petrol and diesel there are only for buses, trains, ambulances or food delivery cars. Power outages are common.
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