Sri Lanka’s anti-government protesters to hand back iconic govt buildings to authorities
PTI, Jul 14, 2022, 1:13 PM IST
Sri Lanka’s anti-government demonstrators on Thursday decided to vacate some of the iconic administrative buildings, including the President’s House and the Prime Minister’s Office, they have been occupying since April 9 demanding president Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation.
On July 9, protesters occupied President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidential palace and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private house. The Prime Minister’s Office was overrun on Wednesday.
“We are peacefully withdrawing from all buildings except the old parliament (president’s office) and Galle Face (the continuous protest site). We will continue to remain in these places, we will continue to protest until we reach our goals,” a spokesperson for the group told reporters.
The government building includes the President’s house, Presidential Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office.
Protesters occupied the building demanding President Rajapaksa’s resignation. However, the Prez on Wednesday fled to the Maldives on a military jet, hours before he was supposed to step down in the face of a public revolt against him and his family for mishandling the economy that has bankrupted the country.
Rajapaksa, the 73-year-old leader who had promised to resign on Wednesday, appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the acting President hours after he fled the country, escalating the political crisis and triggering a fresh wave of protests.
At least 84 people were hospitalised when protesters clashed with the security forces at the prime minister’s office and at the main access junction to Parliament since Wednesday afternoon after Rajapaksa fled the country.
The police fired tear gas and water cannons at the mob who were trying to break barriers and enter the restricted zone.
The police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said protesters had grabbed a T56 firearm and 60 bullets from a Sri Lanka Army soldier. A police complaint had been lodged, the police said.
Protesters have been coming under pressure as the protests took a violent turn. The lawyers’ body had asked them to vacate the buildings.
The spokesperson said, ”their campaign has always been peaceful. We tell those in power not to use this opportunity to threaten people and show your military power”.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar appointed as deputy prime minister
Elon Musk in Beijing amid efforts to promote Tesla’s autonomous driving tech
Retrial of Harvey Weinstein unlikely to occur soon, if ever, experts say
Three women from India killed in US car crash; their Gujarat village holds prayer meeting
China says talks on Tibet only with Dalai Lama’s representatives; rules out dialogue on autonomy
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
ISRO releases ISSAR 2023 report on vulnerability of space assets to collisions
Hunasagi: MLA Bairati Basavaraj’s car overturned
No CM can remain absent for long, it’s against national interest: Delhi HC on Kejriwal
Cricket for the Blind: A Transformative Journey Empowering Visually Impaired Athletes
China lifts restrictions, gives all clear nod for Tesla cars as Musk lobbies hard in surprise visit to Beijing