Kuwait has called on its nationals in Sri Lanka to leave quickly due to the severe turmoil in the country. According to Al-Arabiya network, Kuwait also called on its citizens in Sri Lanka to avoid areas of unrest, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also called on its citizens in Sri Lanka to take caution, in light of severe turmoil in Sri Lanka, according to Al-Arabiya network, and Saudi Arabia also called on its citizens wishing to travel to Sri Lanka to postpone their trips .
A severe crisis is taking place in Sri Lanka at the present stage, in the wake of a major development of events, after large numbers of protesters stormed the residence of the president of the country, at a time when he managed to escape, to a safe place, while the talk turned to the possibility of him fleeing outside the country, which opens The door to a new chapter in the country’s history, which is experiencing a severe economic crisis.
The events began today, Saturday, with demonstrators storming the residence of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, while sources at the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defense announced that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled his residence after being surrounded by demonstrators, who continued their protests during the past days, after The country witnessed a major crisis due to the deteriorating economic conditions, in addition to the lack of fuel in the country.
Several sources reported that the Sri Lankan President instructed officials to take immediate action; To import fuel using available funds, during a discussion session with representatives of major companies that have been importing and supplying fuel to Sri Lanka for a long time.
The sources added: That is why the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Nandalal Wierasinghe, agreed to pay the amounts owed to the related companies; To supply fuel under an acceptable plan.
However, the measures taken by the Sri Lankan government, may not have been sufficient, to contain the anger of the demonstrators, who continued to escalate to the point of storming the residence of the President, and then confrontations broke out with the authorities.
For his part, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe called an emergency meeting with the government after The president’s escape.
Media sources said that Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was trying to flee the country by plane, while other sources spoke of his departure via two military ships, according to the “Russia Today” news website, following his departure from the palace, after violent protests and an attempt to storm it.
Today, Saturday, two ships of the Sri Lankan Navy left the port of the capital, Colombo, with unknown persons on board, and this took place amid reports of the escape of the country’s president.
Sri Lanka’s ruling party leaders decided during their emergency meeting on Saturday that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa should resign immediately.
The Sri Lankan newspaper “Daily Mirror” reported that the meeting of party leaders headed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives is still being held to discuss other decisions following the massive protests in the country.
Earlier, President Rajapaksa told Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that he would respect any decision taken at the party leaders’ meeting.
Sri Lanka’s Daily Mirror newspaper reported on Saturday that 32 people, including two policemen, were injured as a result of clashes between protesters and police forces and were taken to Colombo National Hospital.
The newspaper quoted in a report on its website, quoting hospital sources, as saying that several people who were transferred were seriously injured.
Sri Lanka is experiencing the worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948, and last week, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa sent a letter to the Russian president requesting cooperation between the two countries in oil purchases.
Thousands of protesters carrying Sri Lankan flags rode the relatively few vehicles on the roads due to the acute fuel shortage, while others rode bicycles, many marching to protest sites in the capital, Colombo, from the suburbs after police lifted an overnight curfew.
On June 22, Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, announced the collapse of the country’s economy, saying: “The country is facing a very serious situation beyond just the shortage of fuel, gas, electricity and food…Our economy has completely collapsed.”