Newsbytes
  • India
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Auto
  • Lifestyle
  • Inspirational
  • Career
  • Bengaluru
  • Delhi
  • Mumbai
  • Videos
  • Visual Stories
  • Reviews
  • Phone Reviews
  • Fitness Bands Reviews
  • Speakers Reviews
  • Find Cricket Statistics
Hindi
More
In the news
Afghanistan
Sri Lanka
G7 Summit
United States of America
COVID-19
Russia-Ukraine crisis
Newsbytes
Hindi
Newsbytes
User Placeholder

Hi,

Logout


India
Business
World
Politics
Sports
Technology
Entertainment
Auto
Lifestyle
Inspirational
Career
Bengaluru
Delhi
Mumbai
Videos
Visual Stories
Reviews
Phone Reviews
Fitness Bands Reviews
Speakers Reviews
Find Cricket Statistics

More Links
  • Videos

Download Android App

Follow us on
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
 
Home / News / World News / Sri Lanka crisis: Ex-President Maithripala Sirisena calls for fresh elections
World

Sri Lanka crisis: Ex-President Maithripala Sirisena calls for fresh elections

Sri Lanka crisis: Ex-President Maithripala Sirisena calls for fresh elections
Written by Srishty Choudhury
May 02, 2022, 11:35 pm 3 min read
Sri Lanka crisis: Ex-President Maithripala Sirisena calls for fresh elections
Former Sri Lanka president and chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Maithripala Sirisena.

Amid the deepening economic crisis in Sri Lanka, former president and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) chief Maithripala Sirisena called for fresh elections on Sunday. He was addressing a May Day rally organized by the SLFP in Polonnaruwa. Meanwhile, Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa also said they were observing a "Black May Day" this year because of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's "tyrannical regime" and reckless policies.

Context
Why does this story matter?
  • On Friday, Sirisena seemed to agree with Gotabaya's decision to form an all-party interim government without his brother, PM Mahinda Rajapaksa.
  • Now, Sirisena's call for fresh polls comes as a surprise.
  • Lanka has been experiencing inflation, severe food shortages, and crippling power outages in the most distressing economic crisis since its independence.
  • Prices of medicines, milk powder, cooking gas, and fuel have also skyrocketed.
Protests
'I want to form new government': Sirisena

Sirisena on Sunday said that politicians should be on people's side at a time when "the country is facing a great tragedy," Colombo Page reported. He added he couldn't stay home when citizens were out on the streets and that's why he had hit the streets, too. "I want to form a new government in the country. We will do it," Sirisena reportedly said.

May Day rally
Two to three lakh people starving: Sirisena

Citing the plight of the farmers in Polonnaruwa, Sirisena said he was participating in the May Day rally to raise his voice against "the ruling class of the country." He also talked about the acute food shortage and said two to three lakh people were starving in the island nation. He also warned that under the current leadership, soon "people would die at home."

Surprise move
Sirisena earlier talked about formation of interim government

Sirisena wanting to form a new government after fresh elections come as a surprise. Because on Friday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa met an SLFP delegation that reportedly demanded an interim government be formed. Sirisena had also said a National Council to make crucial decisions—including naming the new PM—would be formed. He also made it clear that PM Mahinda wouldn't be part of the interim government.

Sajith Premadasa
Opposition blames government for pushing nation to bankruptcy

Meanwhile, Opposition leader and Samagi Jana Balawegaya's chief—Premadasa—blamed the government's "reckless" policies for Lanka's economic downfall. He slammed it for pushing Lanka "to the brink of bankruptcy for the first time in its history." "Due to the inability, failure, illogical arbitrariness, and arrogance of a tyrannical regime, our country, and future generations have been plunged into an unprecedented fate," PTI quoted him as saying.

Reasons
Some 'reckless' economic policies responsible for recession

Last year, the Lankan government banned chemical fertilizers to make agriculture "100% organic." However, this proved to be a disaster as farmers were unable to get organic fertilizers due to the shortage of availability and time, triggering massive protests. Lanka's foreign currency reserves also plummeted 70% in two years. It has even defaulted on the entirety of its foreign debt amounting to about $51B.

Solution
What is the way out of the crisis?

Experts believe Sri Lanka has to restructure its debt and repay it over a three-year period to deal with the ongoing economic crisis. This will help in saving US dollars and easing the burden on the citizens who have been experiencing shortages of essential items. The cash-trapped nation also sought a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the rapid financial instrument window.

Share this timeline
Facebook
Whatsapp
Twitter
Linkedin
Srishty Choudhury
Srishty Choudhury
Mail
Srishty Choudhury currently works as a Senior National Writer for NewsBytes. She has previously worked with India Today, Business Standard, Financial Express, and Zee Media in her career spanning over 11 years in print and digital media. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Calcutta University and a PG-Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication.
Latest
Sri Lanka
Maithripala Sirisena
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Related
Latest
#DealOfTheDay: Sony Bravia 55-inch 4K TV discounted by Rs. 33,400
#DealOfTheDay: Sony Bravia 55-inch 4K TV discounted by Rs. 33,400 Technology
'Brahmastra' to 'Avatar 2,' multiple trailers releasing with 'Thor 4'
'Brahmastra' to 'Avatar 2,' multiple trailers releasing with 'Thor 4' Entertainment
Suzuki KATANA launched at Rs. 13.61 lakh: Check features
Suzuki KATANA launched at Rs. 13.61 lakh: Check features Auto
5 must-read books by best-selling author Danielle Steel
5 must-read books by best-selling author Danielle Steel Lifestyle
Varanasi court adjourns Gyanvapi Mosque case hearing till July 12
Varanasi court adjourns Gyanvapi Mosque case hearing till July 12 India
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka under virtual lockdown over fuel scarcity amid crisis
Sri Lanka under virtual lockdown over fuel scarcity amid crisis World
Sri Lanka fuel crisis: 2-week 'work from home' for employees
Sri Lanka fuel crisis: 2-week 'work from home' for employees World
Sri Lanka PM thanks India for support during 'difficult period'
Sri Lanka PM thanks India for support during 'difficult period' World
Lanka to sell national airline, print salary money amid crisis
Lanka to sell national airline, print salary money amid crisis World
Who is Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka's new PM amid crisis?
Who is Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka's new PM amid crisis? World
More News
Maithripala Sirisena
Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to form interim government: Details here
Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to form interim government: Details here World
Sri Lanka: PM Modi pays tributes to Easter attack victims
Sri Lanka: PM Modi pays tributes to Easter attack victims World
Sri Lanka's face veil ban takes effect under new regulation
Sri Lanka's face veil ban takes effect under new regulation World
Sri Lanka blasts: Brothers, father of mastermind killed in gunbattle
Sri Lanka blasts: Brothers, father of mastermind killed in gunbattle World
ISIS claims 3 terrorists who blew themselves in #SriLanka raids
ISIS claims 3 terrorists who blew themselves in #SriLanka raids World
More News
Mahinda Rajapaksa
India not sending troops to Sri Lanka: Indian High Commission
India not sending troops to Sri Lanka: Indian High Commission India
Sri Lanka: Ex-PM Mahinda flees to naval base amid protests
Sri Lanka: Ex-PM Mahinda flees to naval base amid protests World
Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns amid violent clashes
Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns amid violent clashes World
Sri Lanka under state of emergency again as protests intensify
Sri Lanka under state of emergency again as protests intensify World
Sri Lanka economic crisis: Ruling coalition loses majority in Parliament
Sri Lanka economic crisis: Ruling coalition loses majority in Parliament World
More News
Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Amid economic crisis, Sri Lanka defaults on $51 billion debt
Amid economic crisis, Sri Lanka defaults on $51 billion debt World
Sri Lanka economic crisis: Over 600 held for violating curfew
Sri Lanka economic crisis: Over 600 held for violating curfew World
Sri Lanka economic crisis: Social media blocked as protests spread
Sri Lanka economic crisis: Social media blocked as protests spread World
Amid protests, nation-wide curfew imposed in Sri Lanka till Monday
Amid protests, nation-wide curfew imposed in Sri Lanka till Monday World
Sri Lanka: Emergency declared after unrest over economic crisis
Sri Lanka: Emergency declared after unrest over economic crisis World
More News
Related
Debt-ridden Pakistan government asks its people to drink less tea
Debt-ridden Pakistan government asks its people to drink less tea World
Sri Lanka economic crisis: President Rajapaksa revokes state of emergency
Sri Lanka economic crisis: President Rajapaksa revokes state of emergency World
Sri Lanka economic crisis: Cabinet ministers resign as protests mount
Sri Lanka economic crisis: Cabinet ministers resign as protests mount World
Explainer: What's behind Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis in decades?
Explainer: What's behind Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis in decades? World
Next News Article
Next News Article

Love World news?

Subscribe to stay updated.

World Thumbnail
India News Business News World News Politics News Sports News Technology News Entertainment News Auto News Lifestyle News Inspirational News
Career News Bengaluru News Delhi News Mumbai News Mukesh Ambani Indian Premier League (IPL) Karnataka Samsung Xiaomi West Bengal
Bihar Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Haryana Narendra Modi Arvind Kejriwal Tamil Nadu Gujarat Yogi Adityanath YouTube
Instagram Hollywood News Uttar Pradesh Kerala Netflix Bollywood News Mamata Banerjee Maruti Suzuki Rahul Gandhi Elon Musk
Shah Rukh Khan Chelsea FC OPPO Akhilesh Yadav Indian Cricket Team Apple Manchester United Salman Khan Cryptocurrency OnePlus
Amitabh Bachchan ICC Women's World Cup Vivo India vs Sri Lanka
About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive IPL 2022 Schedule IPL 2022 Points Table Find Cricket Statistics
Follow us on
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube
All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2022