Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s special statement addressing the nation commenced, a short while ago.
He stated that last Thursday, he had accepted the Premiership of Sri Lanka and that it was not what he had asked for.
“I did not ask for that position. In the face of the crisis situation in the country, the President invited me to accept this position. At this moment, Sri Lanka’s economy is at a very dangerous position.” he said.
Sri Lanka's new prime minister has told the BBC an economic crisis that has brought misery and unrest is "going to get worse before it gets better".
The country is facing fuel shortages and soaring food prices, with some Sri Lankans forced to skip meals.
Anger over the government's handling of the crisis has led to violent protests.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, who returns for a sixth time as prime minister of Sri Lanka, promised families will get three meals a day in an attempt to diffuse rising tensions.
While calling for a full investigation into the attacks on peaceful protestors in Colombo, the US State Department has expressed its concern over the deployment of the military in Sri Lanka.
A protest has broken out, outside the Trincomalee Naval Base as reports have said that former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and some of his family members have sought refuge there after the violent clashes which erupted yesterday.
A group of protestors has started a protest outside the Navy Camp demanding the former prime minister and his family be held accountable for the crisis and arrested.
Mahinda Rajapaksa left Temple Trees today morning after security forces cleared the protestors who had been protesting for hours against him and the government.
A group of protesters in loin cloths and some holding underwear were seen staging a protest near the Parliament
A group of protesters in loin cloths and some holding underwear were seen staging a protest near the Parliament entrance 'Hora Go Gama' against the President and the government claiming that "this is all we are left with”.
Many sectors of Sri Lanka came to a standstill today due to the ongoing 24-hour hartal by a number of trade unions.
The hartal saw the closing of stores in prominent trading areas and several key towns, as well as the halting of several public transportations, including trains and buses, and public services.
All schools in the country were closed in view of the hartal, while several banks had also either closed or restricted their services.
Employees of the state, semi-government, public, and private institutions have refrained from their duties severely affecting public services in the country.
The public has also hoisted black flags in a number of towns to show their displeasure over the incumbent government.
Employees of Free Trade Zones were seen engaging in public protests outside the trade zones.
Several public protests were also seen in a number of areas calling on the government to resign.
The estate, farmers, and fishing organizations have also engaged in the islandwide hartal.
The hartal is being staged over the current national and economic crisis in the country and calling for the government to step down.
The Colombo Chief Magistrate's court today further extended its order preventing former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal from leaving the country until May 23.
On April 7, the Court had issued notices directing Cabraal to appear in court on May 2. However, the magisterial inquiry into the matter was not taken up for hearing since the government declared May 2 as a public holiday.
Taking into consideration the facts, Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawala ordered to re-issue notices on former Central Bank Governor to appear in court on May 23.
The Court made this order pursuant to a request made by former Southern Province Governor Rajith Keerthi Thennakoon through a private plaint filed in terms of section 136(1)(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act.
The petitioner said Cabraal is responsible for the country's crippling economic crisis since he took measures to pay a 500 million US dollar sovereign bond.
The petitioner stated that the Central bank of Sri Lanka had incurred losses between Rs. 10.4 – 10.6 Billion from 2005 to 2015 to the Sri Lanka Government, whilst Ajith Nivard Cabral was the head of the Central bank. The petitioner alleged Cabral has committed a punishable offence under section 388 of the Penal Code for criminal breach of trust. The petitioner further alleged the CBSL former governor is also liable for committing offences under Registered Stock and Securities Ordinance.
President’s Counsel Maithree Goonaratne, Counsel Ashan Nanayakkara, Iresh Seneviratne and Chan Godakumbura appeared for the complainant.
