Colombo, July 14 (PTI): Sri Lankan authorities on Thursday lifted the curfew, which was imposed in the Western province after the eruption of violence in the capital here, even as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has fled to the Maldives, was yet to submit his resignation letter. Rajapaksa, the 73-year-old leader who had promised to resign on Wednesday, appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the acting President hours after he fled the country, escalating the political crisis and triggering a fresh wave of protests. At least 84 people were hospitalised when protesters clashed with the security forces at the prime minister’s office and at the main access junction to Parliament since mid-afternoon on Wednesday after Rajapaksa fled the country. The police fired tear gas and water cannons at the mob who were trying to break barriers and enter the restricted zone. The police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said protesters had grabbed a T56 firearm and 60 bullets from a Sri Lanka A
The 73-year-old leader, his wife Loma and their two security officers were expected to leave from Male but did not board the aircraft due to security concerns
Amid the economic and political turmoil in Sri Lanka, experts say the country's Tamil minority, who paid a heavy price during the civil war, feel victimized all over again. Some are fleeing to Tamil Nadu in India.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) Tommy Yang - Unprecedented economic crisis that triggered fuel and food shortages in Sri Lanka, which drove people from all walks of life to. 14.07.2022, Sputnik International