The imminent resignation and flight of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa did not quell the crisis on the island, nor did they dampen the protests. At the request of the president who is now in the Maldives, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed interim president on Wednesday (13), fueling popular dissatisfaction.
In one of his first actions, Wickremesinghe decreed a state of emergency and a curfew. He called, in a televised speech, that the army and the police do what is necessary to restore order. “We cannot allow the fascists to take over,” he said.
Protesters stormed the prime minister’s office, waving national flags, and clashed with police. According to Reuters, Wickremesinghe momentarily retreated from the state of emergency, but said he would re-enact the measure later.
“[Os manifestantes] want to stop the parliamentary process. But we must respect the Constitution. So the security forces advised me to impose a state of emergency and a curfew. I’m working to do that,” the interim president said.
In the streets, the population is calling for Wickremesinghe to resign. He, by the way, had said on Saturday (9) – when thousands set fire to his house and invaded the official residence of Gotabaya – that he would be willing to step down to ease the domestic crisis. So far, however, he has not formalized any resignation request.
Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said he had been informed by Gotabaya Rajapaksa over the phone that a letter from him formalizing his resignation from the presidency would arrive later this Wednesday. He kept the election date for the next 20th.
