Sri Lanka-Violent Clashes

Shotlist

Colombo, Sri Lanka – July 13, 2022 (CGTN – No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of protesters gathering outside Prime Minister’s Office, chanting, waving national flags
2. Protester waving national flag on street lamp
3. Soldiers, protesters on road

Storyline

Sri Lanka has been rocked by clashes between protesters and security forces as thousands of demonstrators are demanding the resignation of the prime minister and acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency on Wednesday amid protests, during which protesters overran the office of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Police and protesters clashed inside the office, creating a chaotic scene for a while.

Protesters cheered, climbed street lights, and waved Sri Lankan national flags outside the office. Media reports said that the protesters on Thursday started to retreat from official buildings they had occupied to bring down the President and Prime Minister.

Embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa left Sri Lanka on Wednesday and was allowed entry into Singapore on Thursday, a spokesperson of Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday evening.

Sri Lanka’s Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Friday announced the official resignation of Rajapaksa as the President of Sri Lanka and said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will be sworn in as an interim president.

Abeywardena said on Monday that political party leaders have decided to elect a new president on July 20 through a vote in parliament.