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Sri Lanka PM offers resignation after protesters storm president’s house

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  • Thousands of protesters storm president’s house, office.
  • Prime minister says willing to step aside.
  • Protesters demand president’s resignation over crisis.

COLOMBO, July 9 (Reuters) – Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is willing to resign to make way for an all-party government, his office said in a statement on Saturday, after thousands of protesters stormed the president’s official residence in Colombo.

Soldiers and police were unable to hold back the crowd of chanting protesters demanding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation, as public anger grows over the country’s worst economic crisis in seven decades.

Protesters also forced their way through heavy metal gates into the Finance Ministry and the president’s seafront offices.

Rajapaksa left the official residence on Friday as a safety precaution ahead of the planned weekend demonstration, two defence ministry sources said. Reuters could not immediately confirm the president’s whereabouts.

Wickremesinghe held talks with several political party leaders to decide what steps to take following the unrest.

“Wickremesinghe has told the party leaders that he is willing to resign as Prime Minister and make way for an all-party government to take over,” his office said in a statement.

Wickremesinghe had also been moved to a secure location, a government source told Reuters.

Leaders of several opposition parties have also called for Rajapaksa to resign.

Police use tear gas to disperse demonstrators near Presidents residence during a protest demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa , amid the countrys economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 9, 2022. — Reuters
Police use tear gas to disperse demonstrators near President’s residence during a protest demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa , amid the country’s economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 9, 2022. — Reuters

“The president and the prime minister must resign immediately. If that does not happen political instability will worsen,” said Sri Lanka Freedom Party leader and former president Maithripala Sirisena, speaking before Wickremesinghe had offered his resignation.

Presidential pool

A Facebook live stream from inside the president’s house showed hundreds of protesters, some draped in the national flag, packing into rooms and corridors.

Video footage showed some of them splashing in the swimming pool, while others sat on a four-poster bed and sofas. Some could be seen emptying out a chest of drawers in images that were widely circulated on social media.

Hundreds milled about on the grounds of the colonial-era whitewashed residence, with no security personnel in sight.

At least 39 people, including two police officers, were injured and hospitalised during the protests, hospital sources told Reuters.

The Indian Ocean island of 22 million people is struggling under a severe foreign exchange shortage that has limited essential imports of fuel, food and medicine, plunging it into the worst economic crisis since independence in 1948.

Soaring inflation, which reached a record 54.6% in June and is expected to hit 70% in the coming months, has heaped hardship on the population.

Political instability could undermine Sri Lanka’s talks with the International Monetary Fund as it seeks a $3 billion bailout, the restructuring of some foreign debt and fund-raising from multilateral and bilateral sources to ease the dollar drought. 

“This is a dicey situation. If a clear transition is not put in place the president and prime minister’s resignation will create a power vacuum that could be dangerous. The Speaker can appoint a new all-party government but whether they will be accepted by the protesters remains to be seen,” said political analyst Kusal Perera.

Economic crisis

The crisis comes after COVID-19 hammered the tourism-reliant economy and slashed remittances from overseas workers.

It has been compounded by the build-up of hefty government debt, rising oil prices and a ban on the import of chemical fertilisers last year that devastated agriculture. The fertiliser ban was reversed in November.

However, many blame the country’s decline on economic mismanagement by Rajapaksa and there have been months of largely peaceful protests demanding his resignation.

Before breaking into the government buildings on Saturday, the protesters dismantled several police barricades in Colombo’s government district.

Police fired shots in the air but were unable to stop the angry crowd from surrounding the presidential residence, the witness said.

A demonstrator celebrates after entering the Presidents House during a protest, after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled, amid the countrys economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka July 9, 2022. — Reuters
A demonstrator celebrates after entering the President’s House during a protest, after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled, amid the country’s economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka July 9, 2022. — Reuters

Despite a severe shortage of fuel that has stalled transport services, demonstrators packed into buses, trains and trucks from several parts of the country to reach Colombo for the weekend demonstration.

Discontent has worsened in recent weeks as the cash-strapped country stopped receiving fuel shipments, forcing school closures and rationing of petrol and diesel for essential services. 

Sampath Perera, a 37-year-old fisherman, took an overcrowded bus from the seaside town of Negombo 45 km (30 miles) north of Colombo, to join the protest.

“We have told Gota (Rajapaksa) over and over again to go home but he is still clinging on to power. We will not stop until he listens to us,” Perera said.

Business

Gold prices in Pakistan approach an all-time high.

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Following a substantial surge the prior day, gold prices in Pakistan are ascending to unprecedented levels with an additional gain on Thursday, coinciding with a rise in global precious metal rates.

The price of 24-karat gold in the local market rose by Rs700 per tola, reaching Rs277,900, as reported by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).

Likewise, the cost of 10 grams of 24-karat gold increased by Rs600, currently priced at Rs238,254.

Globally, gold prices exhibited an upward trend, increasing by $7 throughout the day. The APGJSA reports that the international gold price was $2,682 per ounce.

Notwithstanding the increase in gold prices, the silver market exhibited stability, with the price of silver maintained at Rs3,050 per tola.

In the previous month, gold prices in Pakistan reached an unprecedented high of Rs 277,000 a tola, driven by substantial gains in the worldwide market.

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A further relief shipment from Pakistan departs for Gaza and Lebanon.

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Following the Prime Minister’s directions, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) persists in delivering humanitarian assistance to the war-affected populations of Gaza and Lebanon.

The second cargo of supplies was sent from Karachi to Lebanon today.

The relief package, dispatched by the NDMA in partnership with the Al-Khidmat Foundation, consists of roughly 100 tons of provisions, including pharmaceuticals, ready-to-eat meat, tents, tarpaulins, thermal bedding, winter apparel, and powdered milk.

The assistance was sent by air from Jinnah International Airport in Karachi to Beirut, Lebanon.

The farewell ceremony at Jinnah International Airport was attended by representatives from the NDMA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Al-Khidmat Foundation, and local authorities.

The delegates underscored the pressing necessity to deliver assistance to the war-affected populations of Palestine and Lebanon, in light of the continuing conflict and the requirements of the impacted communities.

They reiterated the Government’s dedication to assisting their compatriots in need and emphasized the significance of cooperation among welfare groups and the Pakistani populace in enhancing these initiatives.

This constitutes Pakistan’s twelfth aid shipment to Palestine and Lebanon. Previously, ten relief shipments were dispatched to Palestine.

The Government of Pakistan persists in dispatching relief supplies according to the need of the war-affected populations in Lebanon.

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Speech Made by Pakistan’s Prime Minister on the International Day Against Poverty

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In renewing our commitment to a world where no one is left behind and where possibilities for success are unrestricted by one’s origin or circumstances, Pakistan stands together with the global community on this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. In addition to being morally right, ending poverty is essential to attaining sustainable development and guaranteeing everyone’s peace and prosperity.

The people have always been the center of every policy made by our government. We have significantly reduced poverty and made sure that our most vulnerable residents are taken care of thanks to our social safety net programs. We think that providing long-term routes to economic empowerment is equally as important as providing instant relief when it comes to assisting people in escaping poverty. Our focused initiatives seek to equip communities—women and children in particular—with the means to create better futures for themselves.

The Pakistani government is steadfast in its commitment to improving the affordability of living for its citizens despite the obstacles we face on a global scale, such as inflation and economic instability. Our policies are designed to build long-term economic resilience, from meeting housing needs to guaranteeing food security. With the help of programs like the PM Youth Business, Agriculture Loans, Digi-Skills, which offers free IT training, and the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund, millions of families are receiving financial support and technological help that is changing their lives.

Eradicating poverty is also a top priority for Pakistan, which is still fully committed to reaching the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With a focus on inclusive growth, education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability, we will keep working together with our international partners to achieve these goals. The advancements made in empowering women and guaranteeing that their contributions are essential to the country’s social and economic fabric are another reason for pride.

On this day, I would want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who is devotedly striving to end poverty, both in Pakistan and globally. We can create a future where everyone, regardless of circumstances, has the chance to flourish and succeed by uniting with a shared purpose and unwavering determination.

I speak on behalf of the Government of Pakistan to reiterate our steadfast commitment to this cause and to extend an invitation to all facets of society to work with us to create a world that is more wealthy, just, and inclusive.

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