Sri Lanka crisis live updates: Oppn parties to hold special meet to discuss all-party govt

Sri Lanka crisis live updates: Police, on Sunday (July 10), arrested three people for setting Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's private home on fire as reported by ANI.

Pic Credit: ANI

The Sri Lanka crisis saw huge protests by citizens in Colombo on Saturday (July 9) as they stormed the homes of the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. This led to both the leaders agreeing to step down from their posts to make way for an All-Party government. Rajapaksa has informed that he will resign from the Presidency on the 13th July. 

Dramatic visuals from outside Rajapakse's residence on Saturday showed a sea of demonstrators storming into the compound, tearing down security cordons placed by police, taking a dip in the swimming pool and romping through his kitchen and home.

Following multiple COVID-19 waves, Sri Lanka is currently experiencing its biggest economic crisis since winning independence in 1948. This crisis threatens to reverse years of prosperity and seriously jeopardises the nation's capacity to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Police have occasionally deployed needless and excessive amounts of tear gas and water cannon. Armed forces have occasionally also fired live ammunition amid protests.

Stay tuned to Zee News for live updates on the Sri Lanka crisis.

10 July 2022

15:00 IST

Sri Lanka crisis updates: Opposition parties set to meet to discuss government formation

Main opposition parties are scheduled to meet to discuss the formation of an all-party government after the resignation of the Sri Lankan PM and President. (ANI)

13:27 IST

Sri Lanka economic crisis: India handed more than 44,000 metric tonnes of urea to the nation under a credit line. This is in part of New Delhi's efforts to support the island nation's farmers.

13:25 IST

Sri Lanka crisis updates: 3 arrested for setting PM's home on fire

Protesters, on Saturday, had entered Wickremesinghe's private residence at Cambridge Place here and set it on fire. A day later, the police arrested 3 people in connection with the incident as reported by ANI.

11:36 IST

Sri Lanka crisis updates: Protestors find large sum of money at Rajapaksa's home

Protestors are still present at President Rajapaksa's home who had offered to resign yesterday (July 9). A day after claiming ground of the President's residence, the protestors have reportedly found 'millions of rupees' at the place as reported by ANI. The money was later handed over to the security units.

09:40 IST

Sri Lanka economic crisis updates: Chief of Defence calls for peace

In a brief statement, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Silva said now the current crisis can be resolved in a peaceful manner. He requested all Sri Lankans to support the Armed Forces and the Police to ensure that peace is maintained in the country, Colombo Gazette news portal reported. (PTI)

08:32 IST

Sri Lanka crisis updates: IMF hopes for resolution to allow for bailout talks

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it is hoping for a resolution to Sri Lanka's political turmoil that will allow a resumption of talks for a bailout package after a violent day of protests. "We hope for a resolution of the current situation that will allow for resumption of our dialogue on an IMF-supported program," the IMF said in a statement. (Reuters)

07:58 IST

Sri Lanka economic crisis: US urges country to 'identify long-term solutions'

"Any new government should work quickly to identify and implement solutions that will achieve long-term economic stability and address the Sri Lankan people's discontent," a State Department spokesperson said as Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Thailand. (AFP)

07:10 IST

Opposition leader advocates against violent protests

Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa condemned the burning of the Prime Minister's home by angry protestors on Saturday (July 9). He took to Twitter to call for peace and said, "This is not the way that problems are solved in civilized democracies."

I join all peaceful Sri Lankans in fiercely condemning the barbaric arson attack on Prime Minister @RW_UNP's private residence. This is not the way that problems are solved in civilized democracies. There's no excuse for violence or burning down houses. My thoughts are with (1/2)

— Sajith Premadasa (@sajithpremadasa) July 9, 2022

07:05 IST

Sri Lanka crisis update: On Saturday (July 9), protestors had stormed into the President's residence. The dramatic images from their takeover of the President's home are going viral on the internet. Giving in to the demands of the protestors, the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa submitted his resignation on the same day. He will step down from his position on July 13.