With his party losing the majority and he and his entire family which was in power being cornered by the public outpouring of anger, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa revoked the state of Emergency with immediate effect late on Tuesday (April 5).
This was the first positive move, even as hundreds upon hundreds gathered outside the palace, holding placards demanding his resignation. While the entire cabinet has resigned, the President has refused to step down, or own up to the extreme financial crisis that has hit the island nation.
The president’s revocation came through a gazette notification number 2274/10. During the Emergency, security forces had sweeping powers to curb any disturbance in the country.
Protests have continued despite a nationwide curfew and senior ruling party figures had their homes surrounded by angry protesters who urged the government for solutions to the economic crisis.
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