Latest Ranil Wickremesinghe News
Monks’ role in Sri Lanka protests raises familiar questions
(RNS) — The street protests that drove Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from office last month brought together people from across the country’s diverse and sometimes warring ethno-religious groups: Tamils, Muslims, Christians and Sinhala Buddhists — including, unmistakably, the...
Rights group says Sri Lanka harassed, intimidated protesters
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — An international human rights group says Sri Lanka's government is using emergency laws to harass and arbitrarily detain protesters who are seeking political reform and accountability amid the island country's economic crisis. New York-based Human Rights...
Sri Lanka leader proposes 25-year plan for crisis-hit nation
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka's new president said Wednesday that his government is preparing a national policy roadmap for the next 25 years that aims to cut public debt and turn the country into a competitive export economy as it seeks a way out of its worst economic disaster. ...
Sri Lankan president says COVID-19 cases are rising again
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — COVID-19 cases and deaths are rising in Sri Lanka, and citizens should receive a fourth vaccine dose to prevent a possible surge of the coronavirus, the president said Tuesday. President Ranil Wickremesinghe said there were only three reported COVID-19...
Sri Lankans bide time as leaders seek fix for economic woes
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lankans who have endured months of fuel and food shortages are bracing for more pain as a newly installed government scrambles to find solutions to the Indian Ocean nation's economic emergency. Like many others, fish monger Gamini Mallawarachchi says...
Sri Lanka leader says IMF agreement pushed back after unrest
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s president said Saturday that an agreement with the International Monetary Fund to help pull the bankrupt nation out of its economic crisis has been pushed back to September because of unrest over the past weeks. President Ranil...
Sri Lanka's Parliament approves state of emergency
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s Parliament on Wednesday approved a state of emergency that had been declared by President Ranil Wickremesinghe as his government cracks down on demonstrators it accuses of violence while trying to find a way out of the country’s worst economic crisis. ...
Group seeks ex-Sri Lankan president's arrest in Singapore
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — A human rights group said Sunday it had filed a criminal complaint with Singapore’s attorney general to seek the arrest of Sri Lanka’s former president for alleged war crimes during his country’s civil war. Gotabaya Rajapaksa was ousted from office...
Rights groups urge Sri Lanka not to use force on protesters
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — International human rights groups on Saturday urged Sri Lanka’s new president to immediately order security forces to cease use of force against protesters after troops and police cleared their main camp following months of demonstrations over the country’s economic...
Sri Lanka president gets long-sought win, faces challenges
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Six times Sri Lanka's prime minister, President Ranil Wickremesinghe had long aspired to the pinnacle of power, enduring setback after setback but always managing to recover from seemingly impossible defeats. He has moved quickly to consolidate his...
