Sri Lankans hankering for political change from the Rajapaksa family were disappointed when Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected by the parliament as the president. Wickremesinghe is seen as a Rajapaksa acolyte thus this was only reinforcement of the status quo.
The protesters announced that their agitation will continue, a move that risks more unrest as Wickremesinghe has signaled a willingness to use force to maintain public order and may be looking at the crisis from a securitization perspective without addressing real needs of the masses. But there are some green shoots on the horizon as the heat of the agitation has temporarily cooled off. Here are some of the recent developments in Sri Lanka-
Gotabaya Rajapaksa Searching for Safe Haven
Sri Lanka’s former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who fled the country after riots broke out and the Presidential palace was surrounded by protestors who later entered the premises had initially moved to Maldives on a Sri Lankan air force flight which he could charter as he was the official president then.
On 13 July on reaching Singapore on a temporary visitor’s visa Gotabaya announced his resignation through E mail to the speaker of the house.
Rajapaksa was expected to depart the country on August 11 when his visa expired
Mr Rajapaksa is looking for an asylum as well as hopes to return to the Island some time soon.
However, with human rights groups calling for his arrest due to involvement in the military’s rights violations in the last phase of the Ealam War in 2009 when he was the Defence Secretary possibly there is some hesitation and finding a haven will remain a question mark for now.
Singapore has allowed former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to stay in the country for another 14 days after a request was received from the Sri Lankan government.
His return to the Island is unlikely as the angry public which blamed him for the plight of the nation has calmed down but may resurge in case he returns.
The extension of stay in Singapore will provide him a cooling off period. Singapore has been reluctant to extend the stay but as an official request has come from the Sri Lankan government there was possibly no option for rejection.
Ranil Wickremesinghe Consolidates
Meanwhile President Ranil Wickremesinghe who was first appointed the Prime Minister by Gotabaya Rajapaksa on May 09 and later assumed the office of President through a majority vote in the parliament is consolidating his position despite a politically weak position.
He has now gained the support of the Buddhist Clergy. “President Ranil Wickramasinghe has succeeded in leading the country to the right path by taking charge of the country at a very difficult time and he will be blessed to overcome all the challenges ahead, said the Chancellor of Sri Jayewardenepura University, Most Venerable Ittapane Dhammalankara Nayake Thero, the MahaNayake of Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha. Most Venerable Ittapane Dhammalankara Nayake Thero made this observation when the President, Ranil Wickremesinghe visited the Rukmale Dharma Vijayaloka Vihara in Kottawa yesterday afternoon (06) and received blessing from the Chief Prelate,” reported the Colombo Page.
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) the main opposition party has also assured support to the President’s policies, “when they follow the right policy and certainly the government will receive its support on economic and financial matters. It is a favorable condition that the government has already appointed international advisors to work out the debt restructuring which is paramount important for sustainability”.
Boosting Foreign Currency
The government has decided to provide a grace period of 30 days to deposit undisclosed foreign currency such as dollars and pounds, which have been earned by Sri Lankan citizens through various channels, without any legal hindrance reported the Colombo Page.
Keeping China and India Happy - The Yuan Wang 5 Dilemma
Meanwhile the challenge of keeping China and India happy at a time when assistance from both the countries is essential for Sri Lanka is growing as the satellite and missile tracking ship Yuan Wang 5 is heading towards Hambantota while Colombo has requested for a delay.