Responding to the storming of Sri Lankan President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s house, by anti-government demonstrators, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has stressed the need for all parties to work with the international community to form a new government that meets the “democratic and economic aspirations and upholds human rights”.
President Gotabaya has lost the confidence of the Sri Lankan people. Now, all parties must work together with the international community for a new government that respects the democratic and economic aspirations and upholds human rights the Sri Lankan people deserve. https://t.co/7giaIRrs1S
— Senate Foreign Relations Committee (@SFRCdems) July 9, 2022
The statement comes as news breaks that President Rajapaksa will step down from his post on 13th July amidst ongoing mass protests in Colombo. In advance of the protests, Rajapaksa pre-emptively left his home and there are rumours that he has tried to flee the country. At least 30 people have been injured during the violence across the island with reports of excessive force from Sri Lanka’s military. Two people have been reportedly shot and hospitalised.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee further emphasised that:
The military and police must exercise restraint and be part of the solution, not part of the problem, in this crisis.
— Senate Foreign Relations Committee (@SFRCdems) July 9, 2022
The home of the Prime Minister has also been torched with demands that the entire cabinet resign. The Prime Minister has conceded to these demands stating that he will resign..