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Sri Lanka acting president declares emergency amid protests
[NYPOST] Sri Lanka’s acting president on Monday declared a state of emergency giving him broad authority amid growing protests demanding his resignation two days before the country’s lawmakers are set to elect a new president.Ranil Wickremesinghe became acting president on Friday after his predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, fled abroad on Wednesday and resigned after months-long mass protests over the country’s economic collapse. Wickremesinghe’s move to impose a state of emergency comes as protests demanding his resignation too have continued in most parts of the country, with some protesters burning his effigy. Lawmakers who met on Saturday began the process of electing a new leader to serve the rest of the term abandoned by Rajapaksa. Related: Ranil Wickremesinghe: 2022-07-12 Sri Lanka to get new president next week amid political and economic meltdown Ranil Wickremesinghe: 2022-07-10 Sri Lankan President flees, PM calls for emergency party meeting; Pres, PM to quit Ranil Wickremesinghe: 2022-06-23 Sri Lanka PM says economy 'has collapsed,' unable to buy oil Related: Gotabaya Rajapaksa: 2022-07-12 Sri Lanka to get new president next week amid political and economic meltdown Gotabaya Rajapaksa: 2022-07-10 Sri Lankan President flees, PM calls for emergency party meeting; Pres, PM to quit Gotabaya Rajapaksa: 2022-07-09 Thousands of protesters in Sri Lanka storm president's official residence and take dip in swimming pool after crowds broke through police barricades during anti-government march Posted by: Fred 2022-07-19 |
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