ISLAMABAD, July 28 (Alliance News): Sri Lanka’s parliament has approved a one-month extension of the country’s state of emergency to deal with the political and economic crisis.
According to foreign media, the worst economic crisis in the history of the peninsular country had forced a change in the country’s political leadership during this month.
On the other hand, two sources familiar with the matter told the foreign news agency Reuters that Singapore has allowed former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to stay in the state for another 14 days.
The then Acting President Ranil Wickramasinghe declared a state of emergency in the country on 17 July and was voted by Parliament to become the permanent President 3 days later.
Before Ranil Wickramasinghe became president, President Gotabaya Rajapakse resigned after fleeing the country during nationwide protests against the economic crisis.
The Emergency Ordinance allows the military to detain people for long periods of time, restrict public gatherings and give them powers to search private property.
If Parliament had not ratified the imposition of emergency, it would have ended on July 27.
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A lawmaker said the extension means the state of emergency will now last for another month, with parliament’s approval again for further extension.
On the other hand, informed sources told Reuters that former President Gotabaya Rajapakse was allowed to stay in Singapore for another 14 days. He arrived in Singapore via Maldives 2 weeks ago. will remain.
The Singapore Immigration Authority did not respond to a request to confirm the matter.
The Singaporean government said that the former Sri Lankan president has not been granted political asylum, he is staying in the country on a private visit.
Regarding the return of the former president, the spokesperson of the Sri Lankan government said that I think he may consider returning to Sri Lanka, but no final opinion can be given on the matter.
Local legal experts say that if Gotabaya Rajapaksa returns to Sri Lanka, he will not get special legal protection as a former president on the charges against him.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has served as the country’s Prime Minister for 6 times, plans to hold a donor conference involving India, China and Japan after securing a package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). has presented
He had said on July 18 that the outcome of negotiations with the IMF is close, while China is Sri Lanka’s third largest lender along with international financial institutions and Japan is also a major lender.
Over the past decade and a half, China has loaned Sri Lanka more than $5 billion for projects including highways, ports, airports and coal power plants.
Sri Lanka is in discussions and negotiations for up to $4 billion in additional aid from China to help it recover from the financial crisis.
As the country’s parliament approved an extension of the draconian emergency laws imposed to restore order, police arrested two political activists who helped lead mass protests that toppled Sri Lanka’s president.
After Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s escape, an arrested suspect was seen in social media footage counting notes found at the president’s house.
