Sri Lanka has been experiencing the worst economic crisis in its history, with millions of people unable to obtain cooking gas, fuel, and other necessities because the country lacks the necessary forex reserves to import them. The crisis began early this year, and the people demanded that then-President Gotabaya step down and form a unity government to end it.
P Chidambaram, a senior Congress leader and central minister, said on Wednesday that Ranil Wickremesinghe’s election as President of Sri Lanka could exacerbate the island nation’s crisis. He claimed Ranil was as despised as the Rajapaksas.
“The protest movement was also aimed at him. I am afraid that his election as Sri Lanka’s President will not put an end to the protests or usher in unity and peace. I am concerned that the turbulence in Sri Lanka will worsen and the economic crisis will worsen “He stated this in a tweet.
Sri Lanka has been experiencing the worst economic crisis in its history, with millions of people unable to obtain cooking gas, fuel, and other necessities because the country lacks the necessary forex reserves to import them. The crisis began early this year, and the people demanded that then-President Gotabaya step down and form a unity government to end it.
They had little faith in Gotabaya because they believed it was his poor economic decisions that had led to the country’s demise. Under public pressure, Gotabaya forced his brother, then-Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, to resign and appointed Ranil Wickremesinghe as the next Prime Minister.
Ranil took over as Prime Minister on May 12, but there was no sign of things improving. This sparked a new round of protests in Colombo, with protesters storming the Presidential palace and torching Ranil’s residence. The enraged protesters demanded the removal of both leaders.
While Gotabaya fled the country, Ranil remained and became the country’s interim president. The Parliament elected him as President on Tuesday. Because people have been calling for Ranil’s resignation, there is a chance that protesters will take to the streets again, and Chidambaram shares this concern.
(courtesy of Times Now)