News

Diplomats urge Sri Lanka to reconsider state of emergency

May 7, 2022 04:09 PM


Twitter Share Facebook Share WhatsApp Share

US and European diplomats Saturday urged Sri Lanka's beleaguered president to repeal a state of emergency imposed after a general strike brought the bankrupt country to a halt.

Months of blackouts and acute shortages of food, fuel and medicines have caused widespread suffering across the South Asian island nation, which is enduring its worst-ever economic downturn.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a fresh state of emergency on Friday after weeks of protests demanding his government step down over its mismanagement of the crisis.

US ambassador Julie Chung said she was "concerned" by the second state of emergency in as many months, adding that Sri Lanka's deepening economic crisis and political gridlock needed long-term solutions.

"The State of Emergency won't help do that," Chung said on Twitter.

The European Union said the ordinance "could have a counter productive effect" and noted that a month of anti-government protests had so far been peaceful. 

A spokesman for Rajapaksa said the state of emergency was imposed to "ensure public order" after Friday's general strike brought public transport and economic activity to a halt.

The measure gives sweeping detention powers to the military and allows the president to make laws without parliamentary approval.

Rajapaksa declared an earlier state of emergency on April 1, a day after thousands of protesters attempted to storm his home in the capital Colombo.

It was allowed to lapse two weeks later, but protests have since escalated and spread to every corner of the island.

Thousands have been camped outside Rajapaksa's seafront office for nearly a month to demand his resignation.

Police fired a barrage of tear gas and water cannon on Friday in an effort to disperse student protesters who were blockading parliament.

- Tourism hit -
The emergency declaration is a blow to Sri Lanka's vital tourism industry, which had been making a slow recovery after it was crippled by the pandemic.

"Tour operators are going to be reluctant because the emergency also means higher insurance premiums applicable to trouble spots," a Colombo hotel manager told AFP.

Government sources said the president may ask his brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, to stand down in an effort to clear the way for a unity administration to navigate Sri Lanka through the crisis. 

But Sri Lanka's largest opposition party has already said it will not join any government helmed by a member of the Rajapaksa clan.

Sri Lanka's economic crisis took hold after the coronavirus pandemic hammered income from tourism and remittances.

Unable to pay for fuel imports, utilities have imposed daily blackouts to ration electricity, while long lines of people snake around service stations for petrol and kerosene.

Hospitals are short of vital medicines and the government has appealed to citizens abroad for donations.

Last month, Sri Lanka announced it was defaulting on its $51 billion foreign debt.

Finance Minister Ali Sabry warned this week that the country will have to endure the unprecedented economic hardship for at least two more years.



Most Read

  1. Aroob Jatoi breaks silence on viral deep fake video Aroob Jatoi breaks silence on viral deep fake video
  2. Ducky Bhai pledges million-rupee reward for unveiling source of deepfake video of his wife Ducky Bhai pledges million-rupee reward for unveiling source of deepfake video of his wife
  3. Punjab governor appoints Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Aziz as PPSC Chairman Punjab governor appoints Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Aziz as PPSC Chairman
  4. Life is too short for leaks, Yashma Gill’s latest video ignites criticism Life is too short for leaks, Yashma Gill’s latest video ignites criticism
  5. Why Arijit Singh publicly apologized to Mahira Khan during his concert Why Arijit Singh publicly apologized to Mahira Khan during his concert
  6. Taapsee Pannu unveils strategy behind concealing her marriage Taapsee Pannu unveils strategy behind concealing her marriage

Opinion

  1. PM Shehbaz Sharif, WEF and Pakistan
    PM Shehbaz Sharif, WEF and Pakistan

    By Naveed Aman Khan

  2. Employing global best practices in Pakistan-Saudi ties
    Employing global best practices in Pakistan-Saudi ties

    By Nasim Zehra

  3. PML-N smashed PTI in by-polls
    PML-N smashed PTI in by-polls

    By News Desk

  4. Riding the Digital Wave: How Technology is Rewriting the Script of Economic Prosperity
    Riding the Digital Wave: How Technology is Rewriting the Script of Economic Prosperity

    By News Desk

  5. Tax on solar energy: Govt's misplaced priorities favour powerful stakeholders over people welfare  
    Tax on solar energy: Govt's misplaced priorities favour powerful stakeholders over people welfare  

    By Manzoor Qadir

  6. Legacy of Indian military subjugation in Kashmir
    Legacy of Indian military subjugation in Kashmir

    By Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai