There is relative calm in Jaffna compared to the capital city of Colombo where mass demonstrations have led to protesters storming the President’s house.

In Jaffna, a bicycle parade calling for the resignation of the Prime Minister, President and cabinet is taking place. Cyclists will travel from the University of Jaffna to the central bus stand in the town centre.

As demonstrators stormed the residence of Sri Lanka’s President, reports emerge that two people have been shot close to the President’s house.

They have since been admitted to Colombo National Hospital.

 

The leader of Sri Lanka’s largest opposition party, Samagi Jana Balawegaya, has demanded that the President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka resign.

The statement comes as anti-government demonstrators have stormed the President’s residence and the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has called for an urgent all-party meeting to discuss the unfolding crisis.

Reports have emerged that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is attempting to flee the country.

 

Sri Lanka's embattled president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled the capital, Colombo, as tens of thousands of protesters stormed his official residence this morning, as anti-government demonstrations amidst a crushing economic crisis coming to a head.

At the time of writing, protestors are currently still outside the private residence of Ranil Wickremesinghe, who just hours ago agreed to step down as the country’s prime minister. Demonstrators have set the residence alight.

On this day 27 years ago, the Sri Lankan air force dropped 13 bombs on St Peter’s Church in Navaly. More than 140 sheltering Tamils, who were encouraged by the military to seek refuge at the church, were killed on the spot. 

At least 13 children were amongst the dead, with many more succumbing to injuries later as the local hospital was swamped with the wounded.

Ahead of mass protests in Colombo, US ambassador for Sri Lanka and the UN Human Rights Office have urged Sri Lanka’s military and police to show restraint in responding to protests.

Violence is not an answer. If you are going to protest, please do so peacefully. And reminding military & police to grant peaceful protesters the space and security to do so. Chaos & force will not fix the economy or bring the political stability that Sri Lankans need right now.

The Sri Lankan security forces abruptly imposed a curfew in the capital Colombo late on Friday evening, amidst reports of security forces firing tear gas and using a water cannon on protesters ahead of a much anticipated anti-government rally tomorrow.

The hastily issued curfew, released just an hour before it came into force, started at 9PM local time in Colombo and several surrounding suburbs.

It did not say how long it will be enforced.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced he will be resigning following a turbulent week of politics in London.

As he reaches the end of his tenure as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, we look back on his statements on the British Tamil community, as well his record on advancing justice for mass atrocities in Sri Lanka.

A recent survey conducted by Save the Children revealed that more than a third of families in Sri Lanka have been struggling to feed their children as a result of the country’s economic crisis. The data which was collected from May to June of 2022 surveyed 2309 households across nine districts in Sri Lanka. Of the households surveyed more than a third of families said that “they had been forced to reduce their children’s food intake in the past two weeks.” Additionally, thirty percent of families stated that “they had reduced the number of meals they eat in a day.” According to the survey only around one-third of families were able to satisfy their household food needs. Price hikes, fuel

The UK Treasury pledged to carefully scrutinise any potential bailout package that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) may grant Sri Lanka, as concerns regarding corruption continue to be raised around the world.

Commenting on the ongoing discussion between the IMF and Sri Lankan government,  the Treasury noted that “no proposal on Sri Lanka has yet been shared with members”.