Sri Lanka won’t extend state of emergency, president says

18/08/2022

In this handout photograph taken and released by Sri Lanka's President Office on Monday, Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe (4th left), Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay (4th right) and other officers pose for a group picture next to the first Dornier 228 maritime surveillance aircraft of the Sri Lankan Air Force base in Katunayake just north of the capital Colombo. The aircraft is received as a gift from the Indian navy to bolster the island’s maritime patrolling capabilities. (AFP)

+ A

A -

Qatar tribune

Colombo Sri Lanka’s president will not extend a state of emergency declared during anti-government protests, his office said Wednesday.After the improvement of the situation Ranil Wickremesinghe sees no necessity to extend the measure, the presidential office said in a statement.The state of emergency gives broad powers to security forces to make arrests. It has been in effect for a month and is officially due to end this Thursday.Sri Lanka saw months of widespread protests against the government and storming of several key buildings last month which eventually led to the resignation of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Wickremesinghe was picked as his successor in a parliamentary vote on July 20. (DPA)

Copy

18/08/2022