Sri Lanka temporarily lifts curfew

On the verge of bankruptcy, Sri Lanka, an island nation of 22 million people, is preparing to lift the curfew for 12 hours as the country undergoes political turmoil in the midst of the world’s worst economic crisis.

The country is experiencing food and fuel shortages, skyrocketing costs, and widespread power outages. Even after Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned down as prime minister, the South Asian country is engulfed in violence and unrest. Ranil Wickremesinghe, a five-time prime minister, was selected for the sixth time by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa late Thursday.

On Saturday, Sri Lanka relaxed the country’s statewide curfew for 12 hours as new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe sought to establish a new cabinet.

The curfew was removed from 6 a.m. IST on Saturday till 6 p.m. IST. Previously, a curfew imposed on Monday after violent riots was lifted for a few hours on Thursday and Friday to enable for the procurement of vital commodities.

According to the news agency PTI, the majority of Sri Lanka’s opposition parties have indicated that they would not join the interim administration led by Ranil Wickremesinghe. They have agreed, however, to back his economic measures from afar in order to aid the debt-ridden country’s early recovery.

A lawyer has asked a Sri Lankan court to order the CID to arrest seven people, including former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, according to news agency ANI. According to reports, the lawyer is accusing the protesters of “conspiracy to commit criminal intimidation and abetting attack” in front of the Temple Trees and Galle Face.

Meanwhile, demonstrators have demanded that the former prime minister be held accountable for orchestrating the attack earlier this week.
The Sri Lankan prime minister has warned that the island nation’s economic situation would “worsen before it improves.”

India, which has been lending help to the debt-ridden country, expressed optimism for “political stability” in the country immediately after the new Prime Minister entered office. “I want a closer connection, and I want to congratulate Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi,” Wickremesinghe said on Thursday, alluding to India’s economic contribution to Sri Lanka.