Army on the streets in Sri Lanka

Colombo, In Sri Lanka, the army has taken to the streets to quell violent anti-government protests and restore peace, and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has extended the curfew till May 12. The Sri Lankan government has re-appointed secretaries from the ministries of defence, finance and public security for day-to-day operations. Along with this, the discussion about the appointment of the new Prime Minister has also intensified. Several organizations, especially exporters’ groups, have called for the appointment of a new prime minister and government to restore political stability.

On Monday, Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned from the post of Prime Minister. But after the violence that erupted, he was taken to the Trincomalee naval base for security reasons. There is a tight security cordon around them. Sri Lanka’s Defense Secretary Kamal Gunaratne said that the former prime minister would be shifted to some other place once the situation in the country returns to normal. Till then they can stay there. Keep in mind that Mahinda Rajapaksa is also the former President of the country.

It is worth noting that the common people, suffering from severe economic crisis and inflation, have been agitating against the government for the last one month. On Monday, his peaceful movement was attacked by government supporters, after which the agitators got enraged and started violent attacks. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday urged the public to end the violence. He said that Sri Lankan citizens must unite to overcome economic, social and political challenges.

Sri Lanka’s Defense Secretary Kamal Gunaratne also urged protesters on Tuesday to remain calm and not indulge in violence. He warned that if there was looting and damage to properties, the Defense Ministry would take strict action against those involved in such acts.