Outbreak of discontent of Sri Lankan population: -Protestors storm Presid

Colombo: There was an outbreak of discontent among the Sri Lankan population, facing a shortage of food grain, fuel and other life essentials. Thousands of protestors stormed the residence of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. But President Rajapaksa had already reached a safe location. Even the Sri Lankan military had become difficult to control the raging crowds. Amid violent protests by the people, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe proposed to resign and form an all-party government.

For the last few months, Sri Lanka has been facing food grain and fuel shortages. Sri Lanka does not have the foreign currency reserves to buy food grain, fuels and other essential commodities. Faced with a severe financial crisis, the shortage is acquiring dangerous proportions. The price rise, given the shortages, is adding to the anger of the Sri Lankan population. Therefore, the Sri Lankan population is expressing discontent with traffic protests. But on Saturday, there was a blast of the people’s anger and the protestors directly targeted the Presidential residence. The Rajapaksa family ruled Sri Lanka for a long time and accusations are rife that the policies of this family are responsible for the country’s plight. The other political parties in Sri Lanka are claiming that the wrong policies of Rajapaksa are responsible for the country’s economic crisis and food grain and fuel shortages. Against this background, demand was being raised for the resignation of President Rajapaksa. Still, President Rajapaksa is not willing to resign. This is the reason behind for the protestors to storm the Presidential residence.

But President Rajapaksa moved out of the official residence even before the Protestors could enter. This averted a disaster. The protestors were moving freely in the Presidential residence for quite some time. The military took over the Presidential residence after some time. The crowd was dispersed using tear gas shells and the situation could be controlled only after that. Thirty people were injured in action.

Meanwhile, current Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe called for an all-party meeting and offered his resignation. Wickremasinghe appealed that an all-party government should be formed, given the current scenario. Wickremasinghe said that he was willing to resign for this purpose. The political discord in Sri Lanka, along with the malpractices and faulty policies of the Rajapaksa family, also is an important factor responsible for the instability in the country.

The country will not be stabilised unless a government supported by the Sri Lankan population is installed. But the elections cannot be conducted in Sri Lanka in the current situation. Therefore, Prime Minister Wickremasinghe proposed an all-party government. If the situation is to be brought under control in the coming times, ways will have to be found through discussions with international institutions and leading countries. Responsible political leadership is required in Sri Lanka for this purpose. But unless the population grappling with the shortage of food grain, fuel and other essential commodities receives some consolation, the anarchy in the country will not come under control. The Saturday protests have also exposed this fact to the world.