COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan government withdrew the state of emergency on Saturday, nearly two weeks after it was declared across the island nation in response to huge anti-government and economic crisis.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka announced a state of emergency on May 6 at midnight, the second time in just over a month, amid escalating anti-government protests across the country over the economic crisis. The Presidential Secretariat reportedly announced that the state of emergency has been revoked as of Friday midnight. The decision was made in order to enhance the island nation's law and order condition. The state of emergency allowed police and security personnel the authority to arrest and imprison anyone at will.
The president's decision to declare an emergency came after weeks of rallies calling for his resignation and accusing the government of mismanaging the island nation's economy, which had already been hit by covid pandemic.
In conflicts between pro- and anti-government protesters, nine people were murdered and nearly 200 were injured. Sri Lanka is in the midst of its biggest economic crisis since its 1948 independence from the United Kingdom. A lack of foreign currency has contributed to the issue, since the country has been unable to pay for imports of basic goods and gasoline, resulting in severe shortages and exorbitant costs.
SL envoy meets with NSA Doval, asks for India's help in securing Int’l funding for economic recovery
Sri Lanka's new PM proposes selling off flag carrier
New Sri Lankan PM Wickremesinghe inducts 4 ministers into Cabinet