2022 Sri Lankan political crisis
Part of the Sri Lankan economic crisis
and the 2022 Sri Lankan protests
Protesters protest in front of the Presidential Secretariat
DateApril 2022 – November 2022
Location
Sri Lanka
Caused by
Status
Lead figures

Gotabaya Rajapaksa
(President of Sri Lanka)
Mahinda Rajapaksa
(Prime Minister of Sri Lanka until his resignation on 9 May 2022)

Non-centralized leadership

The 2022 Sri Lankan political crisis was a political crisis in Sri Lanka due to the power struggle between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the people of Sri Lanka. It was fueled by the anti-government protests and demonstrations by the public due to the economic crisis in the country. The anti-government sentiment across various parts of Sri Lanka has triggered a state of political instability that is unprecedented in the nation's history.[4]

The political crisis began on 3 April 2022, after all 26 members of the Second Gotabaya Rajapaksa cabinet with the exception of Prime Minister Rajapaksa resigned en masse overnight. Critics said the resignation was not valid as they did not follow the constitutional protocol and thus deemed it a "sham",[5][6][7] and several were reinstated in different ministries the next day.[8] There were even growing calls on forming a caretaker government to run the country or for snap elections, but the latter option was deemed unviable due to paper shortages and concerns over election expenditure, which would often cost in billions.[9]

Protestors have taken to streets to show their anger and displeasure over the mismanagement of the economy by the government and the protestors urged the President Gotabaya to immediately step down for a political change;[10] he refused to do so,[11][12][13] later eventually fleeing to Singapore and resigning on 14 July.[14] Main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya had determined to abolish the 20th amendment by bringing a private members Bill in order to scrap the executive powers of Executive Presidency.[15]

Background

After the 2019 and 2020 elections

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) recorded a landslide victory with a majority during the 2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary election. The SLPP gained the support of the majority Sinhala Buddhists, which was part of the election manifesto by the party during its election campaign.[16][17] The SLPP government also gained majority support thanks to its handling of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.[18] Gotabaya was elected as the 7th executive President of Sri Lanka during the 2019 presidential election, who won with a majority of 6.9 million votes.[19] He cemented his popularity as a strongman due to his military background and also due to his role as defense secretary in ending the 26-year Sri Lankan Civil War in May 2009.[20]

He also gained enormous public support when he was nominated as presidential candidate for the 2019 elections, after Sri Lanka was still reeling from the aftermath of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.[21] The government was formed, with former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa being appointed as the Prime Minister. Most members of the Rajapaksa family secured important ministerial portfolios in the newly formed government in 2020, with Chamal Rajapaksa being appointed as Minister of Agriculture, Namal Rajapaksa appointed as the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, and Basil Rajapaksa appointed as the Minister of Finance. The opposition accused the government of nepotism, with five members of the Rajapaksa family being in the ruling party's government. The government defended this by replying that they were appointed on preferential votes and the peoples mandate during the 2020 parliamentary election.

2021 onwards

The year 2021 marked the plummeting of the popularity of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa-led government which gained widespread opposition from various stakeholders due to the inability and incompetence of the government when implementing policy.[22] Although the government was credited for its successful handling of the first wave of the pandemic and for its successful vaccination drives amid misinformation about vaccines, the popularity of the Rajapaksa-led government began diminishing from 2021 due to its poor handling of the economy.[23]

Moreover, the decision to ban chemical fertilisers overnight created a huge backlash, especially from farmers who were critical of the government's decision to ban chemical fertilizers without proper planning. The decision was allegedly taken by Gotabaya, who had consulted Vandana Shiva, an Indian scholar and anti-GMO activist, instead of listening to experts on agriculture who repeatedly urged him to avoid such an ill-fated move.[24] Gotabaya intended to make Sri Lanka the first country in the world to follow 100% organic farming. The chemical fertilizer ban turned out to be costly as harvest was severely hampered, triggering acute food shortages throughout the country.[25] The impact of a sudden chemical fertiliser ban was felt with the purchasing behavior of public as Sri Lanka witnessed lengthy queues to buy important essential food items and other stuff including sugar, milk powder, kerosene oil and cooking gas.[26][27]

In September 2021, the government declared an economic emergency, as the situation was further aggravated by the falling national currency exchange rate, inflation rising as result of high food prices, and pandemic restrictions in tourism which further decreased the country's income.[28] The government invoked emergency regulations to control prices of essential food items. The government accused the traders and businesses for hoarding essential food items such as sugar and milk powder, which according to government led to massive food shortages.[29] The government also accused the Sri Lankan media of stoking unnecessary fears among the public and denied any shortages.[30] It was reported that the national emergency was declared on 30 August 2021 and the Parliament of Sri Lanka approved it on 6 September 2021.[31][32] In November 2021, Sri Lanka abandoned its plan to become the world's first organic farming nation following rising food prices and weeks of protests against the plan.[33][34]

The change in composition of gas cylinders which led to explosions in houses and hotels also caused negative publicity to the government as many people started to use electric cookers and ovens due to fear of using biogas.[35][36] The government also failed to preserve the crucial foreign reserves, which led to a curtailing of imports. The first part of the import ban was imposed on motor vehicles, which angered the vehicle importers as it severely affected their livelihoods. The threat of the Delta variant also further dampened any hopes of recovery for the tourism industry.[37] In addition, foreign remittances to Sri Lanka also began declining in 2021, which further dented the country's GDP. The government also faced continuous strikes by school teachers, demanding higher salaries, with the teachers also carrying out online education strikes, which affected the education of school children who were already deprived of a physical education.[38][39]

On 14 April 2021, SriLankan Airlines, the national flag carrier, claimed on Twitter that the airline's cargo division had operated three successive cargo charter flights to Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, airlifting over 102 metric tonnes of printed material in February 2021.[40] The information on what the printed material was were not revealed by the airline due to air cargo confidentiality. It later deleted the tweet for unknown reasons, and it created doubts about the transparency of SriLankan Airlines and speculations arose about the transfer of "printed papers" cargo charter flights which departed to Uganda in February 2021.[41]

SriLankan Airlines later issued a statement claiming that the printed material which was airlifted to Uganda only included Ugandan shillings, and it further revealed that due to security issues with bordering Kenya, the Ugandan government preferred to obtain the printed Ugandan shillings notes from a global security printer.[42][43] The Biyagama branch of the De La Rue company is responsible for printing currency notes to multiple countries, including Uganda.[44] SriLankan Airlines insisted that the consignment was purely commercial in nature and brought much needed foreign revenue to the airlines as well as for the country.[45]

Several sources claimed that prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had maintained close ties with Uganda, especially during his second term as president from 2010 to 2015. Mahinda Rajapaksa was also reported to have befriended the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Uganda, Velupillai Kananathan, during his first official presidential trip to Uganda in 2014.[46][47][48]

Uganda had been targeted for a possible blacklisting by the FATF, for falling to comply with anti-money laundering laws and for continuously engaging in various financial crimes.[49][50] The news of Uganda's possible blacklisting due to money laundering went viral in Sri Lanka among protestors and social media users, with speculations starting to build up that Rajapaksa family members and influential politicians in the government could have possibly transferred the ill-gotten wealth to Uganda on cargo flights via SriLankan Airlines.[51]

In May 2022, Australian investigative journalism program Four Corners alleged that Aspen Medical, an Australian health service company, had been involved in a high-profile money laundering scandal following its involvement in the construction of the multi-million dollar Hambantota General Hospital during Mahinda Rajapaksa's presidency in 2012.[52] According to the Four Corners documentary, the company had obtained an $18.8 million insurance guarantee from the Australian government, through Export Finance Australia, the country's export credit agency[53]

The payments made by Aspen Medical in Sri Lanka amounted to €1.4 million (equivalent to US$2.1 million), and was made to a shell company domiciled in the British Virgin Islands, called Sabre Vision Holdings, which was owned by Nimal Perera, a Sri Lankan businessman who has close ties with the Rajapaksa family.[54][55] Perera claimed that in 2016, he collected the funds for sports minister Namal Rajapaksa, and as a result, he was arrested and released on bail shortly later. After the release of the documentary, Perera denied wrongdoing and insisted that it is a conspiracy to undermine his reputation by the Rajapaksa government.[56]

Protests

Sri Lankans took to the streets calling on the President and the government to step down.[57] Many young adults, including university students, took part in peaceful protests calling for a major overhaul of the system and urged lawmakers to pave way for youngsters to lead the country.[58][59] Protestors also demanded the removal of the 20th amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution, as well as the abolition of the Executive Presidency. Few protestors also urged all 225 MPs to go home to elect new faces in the parliament. During the protests, there were growing calls to elect educated academic people to parliament and also there were calls to reveal the net worth and assets of the politicians.

Political instability

Political instability grew with the resignation of 26 cabinet ministers on 3 April 2022.[60] The resignations were deemed null and void, according to the provisions of Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka, as the ministers tendered their resignations to the Prime Minister instead of the President. The Sports and Youth Minister and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's son Namal Rajapaksa, brothers Chamal Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa also resigned.[61]

The president immediately made major steps to form an all-party interim government and invited all the parties to form a new government as a temporary solution up until the 2022 Sri Lankan presidential election and next Sri Lankan parliamentary election in 2025.[62][63] The all party interim government would still have both President and Prime Minister unchanged but the cabinet of ministers would have included members representing various parties. The main oppositions SJB and JVP declined the proposal and urged the entire government including the President to resign.[64] There were rumours and speculations regarding the fact that Mahinda Rajapaksa would resign from his position as Prime Minister but the rumours were deemed false as it was revealed that Mahinda would stay in power.[65][66]

On 4 April 2022, a temporary cabinet with four ministers was formed by Gotabaya Rajapaksa and these four ministers who were part of the cabinet ministries which resigned due to the crisis had been reshuffled to different ministerial positions. In the cabinet reshuffle, Ali Sabry was appointed as Finance Minister, G. L. Peiris was appointed as Foreign Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena was appointed as Education Minister, and Johnston Fernando was appointed as Minister of Highways. On 5 April, Ali Sabry tendered his resignation as Minister of Finance, having served only one day in office.[67][68] In addition, he also intended to resign from his national list MP post.[69] Sabry then revoked his resignation and remains as the finance minister.[70][71]

On 5 April, the parliament reconvened for the first time since the state of emergency began and were set to discuss the current state of affairs.[72] The ruling SLPP government began losing the support of its key allies consisting of 41 MPs: 9 MPs of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) decided to move away from the government and to work as independent persons, while the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC) and the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) left the government and moved into opposition.[73][74][75] MP Harin Fernando urged to make Harsha de Silva as Sri Lankan President for at least six months with the former indicating Harsha's wide knowledge and understanding about the economy.[76]

On 6 April 2022, the opposition party SJB held placards and protested inside Parliament demanding that Gotabaya Rajapaksa resign immediately.[77] The SJB party said that it would try to bring a no-confidence motion in Parliament if the President and Prime Minister do not step down.[78][79]

On 7 April 2022, the private sector of Sri Lanka collectively in writing made a request to restore political stability in order to foster the economy. Around 38 organizations collectively representing exporters, importers, manufacturers, shipping and logistics sector and tourism sector have appealed to the parliament to resolve the economic crisis to prevent catastrophe.[80] On 7 April 2022, the Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) had also made an appeal to the government to solve the current economic and political crisis and had warned that if the issue had not been addressed with due diligence it could lead to closure of businesses.[81]

Sri Lanka bonds spiked in 2022
Inverted yield curve in the first half of 2022
  15 year bonds
  10 year bonds
  5 year bonds
  1 year bonds
  6 month bonds

Newly appointed Finance minister Ali Sabry had pleaded for political stability and insisted that Sri Lanka needs an immediate bailout or a moratorium from multilateral agencies such as the IMF, World Bank and Asian Development Bank. He also insisted that there are no other options except to seek assistance from multilateral agencies to cope up with the crisis and especially he called on the government to restructure the US$1 billion ISB bond repayment which matures around July 2022.[82]

On 8 April 2022, former World Bank official Shanta Devarajan had warned that the biggest risk Sri Lanka is going to face is the social unrest and turmoil. He highlighted that cash transfer program can be initiated aiming at helping the poor people in addition to reduction in subsidies on food and fuel in order to avoid the collapse of the economy.[83] Moody's Investors Service had warned that the wave of resignation of cabinet ministers would only heighten policy uncertainty and as a result it will make hard when obtaining or borrowing external finance.[84]

On 9 May 2022, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa submitted his letter of resignation amidst mass anti-government protests.[85] Sri Lanka's economic crisis is primarily the result of internal factors, including mismanagement and corruption.[86]

In early 2022, Sri Lankans faced power cuts and shortages of basics like fuel. Only Sri Lanka's political crisis caused inflation to rise to 50% per annum.[87]

New government

On 18 April 2022, Gotabaya appointed a new 17 member cabinet despite the protests calling the entire government to resign including the president alongside all 225 MPs in parliament.[88][89] Dinesh Gunawardena was appointed as Public Administration, Internal Affairs minister while Douglas Devananda was appointed as Fisheries minister, Kanaka Herath was appointed as Highways minister, Dilum Amunugama was appointed as Transport & Industries minister, Prasanna Ranatunga was appointed as Public security and tourism minister, Channa Jayasumana was appointed as Health minister, Nalaka Godahewa was appointed as Media minister, Pramitha Tennakoon was appointed as Ports and Shipping minister, Amith Thenuka Vidanagamage was appointed as Sports & Youth Affairs ministry, Kanchana Wijesekera was appointed as Power & Energy minister, Asanka Shehan Semasinghe was appointed as Trade & Samurdhi Development minister, Janaka Wakkumbura was appointed as Agriculture & Irrigation minister, Vidura Wickremanayake was appointed as Labour minister, Mohan Priyadarshana De Silva was appointed as Water supply minister, Ramesh Pathirana was appointed as Education & Plantation Industries, Wimalaweera Dissanayake was appointed as Widelife & Forest Resources Conservation minister and Ahamed Nazeer Zainulabdeen was appointed as Environment minister.[90][91] In the new cabinet portfolio, female representation was completely excluded with all 17 ministers are being males.[92]

Prime Minister

On 11 May 2022, Gotabaya Rajapaksa had secret closed-door meeting and discussions with former Prime Minister and UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe about the political situation and critics speculated that Ranil could well be appointed as new prime minister of the country for at least six months.[93] The meeting also had concluded with Gotabaya giving an offer to Ranil to take up the PM post.[94] It was revealed that Gotabaya also contacted opposition leader Sajith Premadasa with the former recommending Sajith to take up the premier post but it was declined by Sajith.[95] Sajith insisted that he would take up the prime minister role only if Gotabaya resigns as president.[96] The SJB party revealed that it will not form a government as long as Gotabaya remains in the office.[97] Some members of his party, including Harin Fernando expressed their disappointment and dissent over Sajith's demands and conditions at a time when the country is in critical juncture and crossroads. Harin decided to part ways with SJB and insisted that he would serve as independent member in the parliament.[98]

There were also reports suggesting that Sarath Fonseka might have accepted the Prime Minister role but Fonseka denied such reports insisting that he wouldn't take up any position in a government headed by Gotabaya.[99][100] The SLFP leader and former President Maithripala Sirisena revealed to the media that a letter had been sent to Gotabaya by 11 political parties and independent parliamentary group nominating and proposing three names as candidates for PM post including Nimal Siripala de Silva, Dullas Alahapperuma and Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.

On 12 May 2022, Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as prime minister for record sixth time.[101][102] He has been assured the support of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna members of parliament, while other parties have refused to join his cabinet.

President and Prime Minister homes breached and resignations

On 9 July 2022, amid reports that their homes were stormed and burned, Gotabaya and Wickremesinghe both agreed to resign from their respective posts as Sri Lanka's president and Prime Minister.[103][104] Political parties including the Opposition agreed to form an all-party interim government after the President's resignation.[105][106] The whereabouts of the President remained unknown to the public and on 11 July, the Speaker of the Parliament announced that the President was still in Sri Lanka.[107]

According to the Speaker on 12 July, following President's resignation on 13 July, parliament would elect a new president on 20 July, after calling for nominations on 19 July.[108]

In the morning of 13 July, Rajapaksa left Sri Lanka via military aircraft of Sri Lanka Air Force to the Maldives[109] from where he issued a gazette stating that he is "unable to exercise, perform and discharge the powers, duties and functions of the Office of the President" by reason of his absence from Sri Lanka and that he appoints Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting president under Article 37 (1) of Sri Lanka's constitution during his absence.[110] He formally resigned a day later after a further flight from the Maldives to Singapore.[111]

Electing new President

On 15 July, Ranil Wickremesinghe swore in as the Acting President, taking his oath of office before Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya.[112] To complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa's term, a President was elected by the Parliament of Sri Lanka in a secret ballot on 20 July 2022.[113] Wickremesinghe defeated his main rival Dullus Alahapperuma, with 134 votes to 82, becoming the ninth President of Sri Lanka.[114]

On 22 July, Wickremesinghe appointed Dinesh Gunawardena, leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna and MP for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, as new Prime Minister.[115]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Pathi, Krutika (13 July 2022). "Thousands protest against Sri Lanka's new acting president". Associated Press. Colombo. Retrieved 14 July 2022. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled on a military jet on Wednesday after angry protesters seized his home and office, and appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting president while he is overseas.
  2. ↑ Marian, Teena (14 July 2022). "Speaker yet to receive GRs resignation". News First. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  3. ↑ Jayasinghe, Uditha (14 July 2022). "Sri Lanka awaits president's resignation after flight". Reuters. Colombo. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  4. ↑ "Rajapaksa Clan Losing Grip on Power in Sri Lanka". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  5. ↑ "Sri Lanka's cabinet ministers resign as crisis protesters defy curfew". BBC News. 3 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "Cabinet resigns". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  7. ↑ "Sri Lanka main SJB slams 'sham' cabinet resignation, says no deal". EconomyNext. 4 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  8. ↑ "4 new Ministers sworn in". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  9. ↑ "Will our problems be solved by a general election? | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  10. ↑ Kuruwita, Zaheena Rasheed,Rathindra. "Thousands in Sri Lanka insist Rajapaksa family quit politics". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 10 April 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ "Gotabaya Rajapaksa: Economic crisis protesters defy curfew in Sri Lanka". BBC News. 3 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  12. ↑ "'Go Home, Gota': Huge Protest in Sri Lanka Mounts Pressure on Rajapaksa to Quit". The Wire. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  13. ↑ Arulthas, Mario. "Sri Lanka: Gota needs to go – but so does the ethnocratic state". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  14. ↑ Wong, Tessa. "Sri Lanka: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flees the country on military jet". BBC News. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  15. ↑ "SJB moves to abolish 20th amendment - Breaking News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  16. ↑ "Hardline Sri Lanka monk calls for Buddhist Sinhalese government". Reuters. 7 July 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  17. ↑ Arudpragasam, Amita. "The Rajapaksas Will Ruin Sri Lanka's Economy". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  18. ↑ "Sinhalese Leviathan: How Gotabaya Rajapaksa Is Remaking Sri Lanka". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  19. ↑ "Brothers who led in war revive grip on Sri Lanka". BBC News. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  20. ↑ "Sri Lanka election: Unity hard to achieve in divided country". BBC News. 17 November 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  21. ↑ "Many Sri Lankans want a strongman leader, and that favors Gotabaya Rajapaksa". Reuters. 10 August 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  22. ↑ Jayasinghe, Uditha; Ghoshal, Devjyot (25 February 2022). "Analysis: Shocks and missteps: how Sri Lanka's economy ended in crisis". Reuters. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  23. ↑ Shan (18 January 2022). "The Rajapaksas to blame for Sri Lanka's disastrous 2021". East Asia Forum. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  24. ↑ "Sri Lanka's shift towards organic farming". Navdanya international. 16 June 2021. Archived from the original on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  25. ↑ Shah, Ted Nordhaus, Saloni. "In Sri Lanka, Organic Farming Went Catastrophically Wrong". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 10 April 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ↑ "Gotabaya's Underwhelming Presidency". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  27. ↑ Kuruwita, Rathindra. "Sri Lanka's poor queue for hours to buy kerosene amid crisis". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  28. ↑ "Covid: Sri Lanka in economic emergency as food prices soar". BBC News. 1 September 2021. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  29. ↑ "Sri Lanka declares food emergency as forex crisis worsens". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  30. ↑ "Why are there food queues in this Indian Ocean island?". BBC News. 11 September 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  31. ↑ "Explained: The perfect storm that has led to Sri Lanka's national 'food emergency'". The Indian Express. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  32. ↑ "Sri Lanka parliament approves state of emergency". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  33. ↑ Watt, Louise (21 November 2021). "Sri Lanka abandons drive to become world's first organic country amid spiralling food prices". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  34. ↑ "Sri Lanka walks back fertiliser ban over political fallout fears". France 24. 5 August 2021. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  35. ↑ "Sri Lanka's mysterious gas explosions become nobody's baby". EconomyNext. 18 December 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  36. ↑ "Sri Lanka presidential probe on gas explosions contradicts previous official claims". EconomyNext. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  37. ↑ "Sri Lanka Is Running Out of Money for Imports as Delta Rages". Bloomberg.com. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  38. ↑ "The lessons of Sri Lanka's ongoing three-month teachers' strike". World Socialist Web Site. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  39. ↑ PTI (21 October 2021). "Schools reopen across Sri Lanka even as teachers' strike continues". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  40. ↑ "Private Jets & UL Cargo flights linked to Uganda - What's going on?". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  41. ↑ "Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka national carrier explains last year's cargo operation to Uganda". www.colombopage.com. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  42. ↑ "SriLankan says Entebbe-bound cargo contained currency notes for Uganda". Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  43. ↑ "The sinking ship of state and its hapless captain". Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  44. ↑ "SriLankan flights to Uganda: Statement from Currency Printer De La Rue". NewsWire. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  45. ↑ "Cargo flights to Uganda in 2021: SriLankan issues clarification". NewsWire. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  46. ↑ "Gota's gotta go, Lankans say, Destination Uganda?". Deccan Herald. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  47. ↑ "SL Currency printing and airlifting money to Uganda open can of worms". LNW. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  48. ↑ Suranimala (29 December 2021). "One Family, One Set Of Looters". Colombo Telegraph. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  49. ↑ "Uganda to be blacklisted over money laundering - Reports". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  50. ↑ "Uganda to be blacklisted over money laundering - Latest News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  51. ↑ "What Is The Ugandan Link And Shady Dealings With Sri Lanka's Kings?". Colombo Telegraph. 31 December 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  52. ↑ "Sri Lanka: ABC media in Australia exposes corrupt dealings in Hambantota hospital construction". www.colombopage.com. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  53. ↑ "How a politically connected company earned more than $1 billion from the pandemic". ABC News. 1 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  54. ↑ "Australia documentary reveals major corruption in multi-million dollar hospital project in Hambantota". NewsWire. 2 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  55. ↑ "Investigation reveals Nimal Perera's alleged links to multi-million dollar corruption in Hambantota hospital project". The Morning - Sri Lanka News. 2 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  56. ↑ "Namal, Nimal respond to Australian documentary corruption allegation". NewsWire. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  57. ↑ "Gotabaya Rajapaksa: Angry Sri Lankans want the president to go". BBC News. 4 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  58. ↑ "Why are Sri Lankans protesting in the streets?". BBC News. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  59. ↑ "Students throw their weight behind island-wide protests". University World News. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  60. ↑ Jessie Yeung (4 April 2022). "Sri Lanka ministers resign as protests erupt over economic crisis". CNN. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  61. ↑ "Sri Lanka's cabinet ministers resign amid protests, social media ban". France24. 3 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  62. ↑ "Sri Lankan lawmakers seek interim government to solve crisis". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  63. ↑ "Sri Lankan President invites all parties in Parliament to join govt to resolve economic crisis; central bank governor resigns: Key points - Times of India". The Times of India. 4 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  64. ↑ "Sri Lanka's two main oppn parties reject President's request to form all-party interim govt". ThePrint. 4 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  65. ↑ "MR likely to step down as PM in new interim govt. - Breaking News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  66. ↑ "Reports on Mahinda resigning as PM false: PM's Office - Latest News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  67. ↑ "Sri Lanka Finance Minister Ali Sabry resigns; ready to vacate parliament seat". EconomyNext. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  68. ↑ "Ali Sabry steps down as Finance Minister". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  69. ↑ "New Finance Minister Ali Sabry resigns". NewsWire. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  70. ↑ "I am still the Finance Minister: Ali Sabri - Breaking News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  71. ↑ "Sabry continues as Finance Minister". Island. 9 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  72. ↑ "Parliament to meet on Tuesday (5)". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  73. ↑ "Sri Lanka ruling alliance loses majority ahead of parliament meet". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  74. ↑ "SLPP MPs who became independent in Parliament". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  75. ↑ Srinivasan, Meera (5 April 2022). "Sri Lanka crisis: Gotabaya Rajapaksa loses parliamentary majority". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  76. ↑ "'Make Harsha President for 6-Months': Harin". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  77. ↑ "Sri Lanka main opposition SJB protests in parliament, demands president's resignation". EconomyNext. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  78. ↑ "SJB says will bring no-confidence motion against govt". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  79. ↑ Srinivasan, Meera (8 April 2022). "Sri Lanka opposition threatens no-confidence motion, industry warns of 'precipice'". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  80. ↑ "Private sector appeals to Parliament to prioritise political stability | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  81. ↑ "COYLE warns crises stalling many businesses; wants urgent resolution | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  82. ↑ Jayasinghe, Uditha; Ghoshal, Devjyot (7 April 2022). "Sri Lanka calls for $1 bln debt restructure as crisis rages". Reuters. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  83. ↑ Buddhavarapu, Ravi (8 April 2022). "Social turmoil is Sri Lanka's biggest risk, ex-World Bank official says of economic crisis". CNBC. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  84. ↑ "Sri Lanka resignations heighten uncertainty compounding external crisis: Moody's". EconomyNext. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  85. ↑ "Mahinda Rajapaksa: Sri Lankan PM resigns amid economic crisis". BBC News. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  86. ↑ Wignaraja, Ganeshan (19 July 2022). "India mulls aid in Sri Lanka's hour of need". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  87. ↑ "Sri Lanka: Why is the country in an economic crisis?". BBC News. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  88. ↑ "Gotabaya Rajapaksa: Under fire Sri Lanka president appoints new cabinet". BBC News. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  89. ↑ "Sri Lankan president appoints new Cabinet of 17 ministers amid protests against him: Report". Hindustan Times. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  90. ↑ "Sri Lanka appointed new 17-member Cabinet". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  91. ↑ "17 member new Cabinet announced". NewsWire. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  92. ↑ "No women in Sri Lanka's new Cabinet". NewsWire. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  93. ↑ "RW tipped to be PM? - Latest News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  94. ↑ "Battle begins for PM post Ranil tipped to be next PM?". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  95. ↑ "Sajith will not accept Premiership under GR - SJB". NewsWire. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  96. ↑ "Sajith ready to accept Premiership if President resigns". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  97. ↑ "SJB wants President to resign after appointing Sajith as PM | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  98. ↑ "Harin to sit independent, signals split in SJB". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  99. ↑ "President contacts Sarath Fonseka on premiership - Breaking News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  100. ↑ "SF denies reports on accepting premiership - Breaking News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  101. ↑ Wipulasena, Aanya. "Sri Lanka's returning prime minister: Ranil Wickremesinghe". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  102. ↑ "RANIL SWORN IN AS PM - Top Story | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  103. ↑ Farzan, Zulfick (9 July 2022). "REAKING: President to step down on 13th July". News 1st. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  104. ↑ "After Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe resigns, protesters set his house on fire". CBS News. 9 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  105. ↑ "Sri Lanka Economic Crisis: Sri Lankan parties agree to form all-party interim govt after Rajapaksa's resignation". The Times of India. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  106. ↑ "Sri Lanka Opposition parties agree to form all-party interim govt". Business Standard. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  107. ↑ "Lankan Prez Rajapaksa still in country, says speaker Yapa Abeywardena". Hindustan Times. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  108. ↑ "Sri Lanka parliament to select new president on July 20 amid nomination speculation". Economy Next. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  109. ↑ "Sri Lanka: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flees the country on military jet". BBC News. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  110. ↑ "Gotabaya Rajapaksa appoints Ranil Wickremesinghe as Sri Lankan president". Tamil Guardian. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  111. ↑ "Sri Lanka: Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigns after fleeing Sri Lanka". BBC News. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  112. ↑ "PM Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as Sri Lanka's interim president". Al Jazeera. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  113. ↑ "Sri Lanka PM becomes acting president, election set for July 20". France24. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  114. ↑ "Sri Lanka live news: Ranil Wickremesinghe elected president". Al Jazeera. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  115. ↑ "Dinesh Gunawardena, Sri Lanka president's schoolmate, to be next PM: Report". Hindustan Times. 21 July 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.