In Sri Lanka, protesters retreat
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lankan protesters began to retreat from government buildings they seized and military troops reinforced security at the Parliament on Thursday, establishing a tenuous calm amid an economic meltdown and political limbo.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa f led a day earlier under pressure from demonstrators furious over the island nation’s economic collapse. He emailed his resignation Thursday, a day later than promised, according to an official — but the crisis was far from over because he has further angered the crowds by making his prime minister acting leader.
Protesters want both men out and a unity government in to address an economic calamity that has triggered widespread shortages of food, fuel and other necessities. But with a fractured opposition and confusion over who was in charge, a solution seemed no closer after Rajapaksa’s departure. Adding to the turmoil, the president left the Maldives for Singapore on Thursday.
The slow and haphazard way Rajapaksa’s departure and reported resignation unfolded underlined the confusion gripping the country. On Thursday, Indunil Yapa, an aide to Sri Lanka’s Parliament speaker, said Rajapaksa had emailed his resignation — but that it needed to be checked and an official announcement wouldn’t come until Friday.
The protesters accuse Rajapaksa and his powerful political family of siphoning money from government coffers for years and his administration of hastening the country’s collapse by mismanaging the economy. The family has denied the corruption allegations, but Rajapaksa acknowledged that some of his policies contributed to the meltdown.
Months of protests peaked over the weekend when demonstrators stormed the president’s home and office and the official residence of the prime minister. On Wednesday, they seized the office of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
They initially vowed to occupy these places until a new government was in place, but the movement appeared to shift tactics Thursday, apparently concerned that any escalation in violence could undermine their message after clashes the previous night outside the Parliament that left dozens injured.
“The fear was that there could be a crack in the trust they held for the struggle,” said Nuzly, a protest leader who goes by one name. “We’ve shown what power of the people can do, but it doesn’t mean we have to occupy these places.”
Another protest leader, Devinda Kodagode, said demonstrators planned to vacate official buildings after the Parliament speaker said he was exploring legal options for the country.
Protesters withdrew from the presidential residence, with some moving a red carpet they had rolled up back into place as they left. Others held a news conference to announce that they were pulling out of the prime minister’s office.
The country remains a powder keg, and the military warned that it had powers to respond in case of chaos — a message some found concerning. Troops arrived in armored personnel carriers Thursday to reinforce barricades around the Parliament, while protesters vowed they would continue to rally outside the president’s office until a new government was in place.
Lawmakers have agreed to elect a new president Wednesday who will serve the remainder of Rajapaksa’s term, which ends in 2024.
That person could potentially appoint a new prime minister, who would have to be approved by Parliament.