New Delhi: Sri Lanka’s acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday declared a state of emergency as anti-government protests continued to simmer amid the acute financial crisis gripping the island nation.
The action comes as the Sri Lankan parliament meets to elect a new president. The results are expected to be announced on July 20. The top constitutional post was vacated by Gotabaya Rajapaksa, after he fled the country last week following massive protests against him. Rajapaksa is currently ensconced in Singapore, where small groups of people held demonstrations demanding that he be booted out.
Meanwhile, the authorities in Singapore have told Rajapaksa that he has permission to stay for 15 days, which is unlikely to be extended, added sources, News18 reported.
Rajapaksa is not clear about his plan after the next 15 days, they added. Sources confirmed to CNN-News 18 that he has also approached India, but India has denied his request.
