Sri Lanka announces not to renew state of emergency against protests

Protests continue in Sri Lanka, like here, to denounce current President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in Colombo, August 9, 2022. © Eranga Jayawardena / AP

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2 mins

The state of emergency will not be renewed in Sri Lanka.

Very large demonstrations have taken over the country, against the economic crisis, galloping inflation and shortages, pushing ex-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign.

While his predecessor Ranil Wickremesinghe had promised to take severe measures against " 

troublemakers

 " and had established a much criticized state of emergency, he announced Tuesday August 16 not to renew the measure.

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Just over a month after tens of thousands of protesters stormed inside the presidential palace, the situation has ' 

stabilised

 ', in the words of the office of Ranil Wickremesinghe,

the country's new president since mid -July

.

End of the state of emergency

The state of emergency, which notably allowed the troops to detain “ 

suspects

 ” and granted exceptional powers to the head of state

to muzzle any agitation

, will not be renewed on Thursday August 18, after its expiration.

This measure, much criticized by human rights groups, had been taken on April 1 and had been renewed each month in the face of the insurrectionary climate which reigned on the island and had then been used to violently repress protest. .

If political tension has eased somewhat after ex-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was

forced to flee the country

in the face of monster demonstrations, rumors

announce his return to the country next week

.

Many shortages

A potentially explosive prospect as the 22 million inhabitants continue to suffer from

shortages of food

, fuel and even medicine.

Since mid-April the country has suspended all repayments of its external debt of 51 billion dollars and inflation has exceeded 60%.

The authorities are now conducting talks with the International Monetary Fund in order to receive a possible bailout in a particularly precarious economic context.

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Also to listen: 

Sri Lanka: cooking at a lower cost

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  • Sri Lanka

  • Economy

  • Gotabaya Rajapaksa

  • Ranil Wickremesinghe

  • Social issues