Sri Lankans in Maldives protest against ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Sri Lankans residing in the Maldives staged a protest on Wednesday against exPresident Gotabaya Rajapaksa They demanded that Gotabaya Rajapaksa who is currently at a resort in the Maldives be sent back to Sri Lanka reported NewswireVideo footage shared by a social media user shows Sri Lankans staging a protest in the Maldives capital Male The protesters are seen holding the Sri Lankan national flag and placards with antigovernment slogansRajapaksa fled to the Maldives with his family early this morning despite stating that he will announce his resignation Wednesday reported NewswireThe public in Sri Lanka has been calling for the Presidents resignation over the current economic crisis Apart from leaving the country without tendering his resignation he has also appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Acting PresidentAlso Read Sri Lanka declares state of emergency after President Gotabaya Rajpakasa fleesMeanwhile the Maldives media reports that Rajapaksa is set to leave for either Singapore or Dubai UAE from the Maldives later Wednesday reported NewswireAmid mayhem and chaos in Sri Lanka acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe instructed armed forces and police to bring the current situation under controlFurther some of the protesters have stormed the premises of Sri Lankas Prime Ministers Office in Colombo Security personnel resorted to teargas shelling to drive away protestors on the streets of ColomboWickremesinghe declared an emergency and imposed a curfew in the western province of the country as protests intensified following Rajapaksas escape to the MaldivesA state of emergency was declared as protesters came prepared to face tear gas shelling by security forces deployed outside Wickremesinghes residence Air patrolling also began around the PMs residenceThe countrys opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said that the PM cannot exercise the powers of the President and cannot declare a curfew or a state of emergencyPM becomes acting President only if the President appoints him as such or if the office of President is vacant or if the CJ in consultation with the Speaker forms the view that the President is unable to act Premadasa tweetedIn the absence of any of these the PM cannot exercise the powers of President and cannot declare curfew or a state of emergency he said in another tweet73yearold Rajapaksa had gone into hiding after crowds of protesters stormed his residence on July 9 and he had announced that he will resign on July 13The country is facing a severe shortage of fuel and other essential supplies and is in the throes of its worstever economic crisis with soaring inflationThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever