Colombage Melani Manel Perera

Silva decided to financially help five families. With food prices staying high, people continue to protest. Today, a human chain demanded the resignation of the president and the prime minister.

In a statement released at the end of its Plenary Assembly, the Bishops' Conference calls for urgent government action to help people left to fend for themselves. The prelates demand the repeal of an amendment to the constitution that concentrated too many powers in the hands of the president. They urge fellow Sri Lankans to stay away from violence in any form.

Official statistics claim that only 1% of minors between 5 and 17 years of age are involved in economic activities. But civil society tells a very different story, with today's pandemic and financial crisis making even more serious. Buddhini Withana (Save the Children): "Stop criminalising families, they need social protection measures".

Former finance minister Basil has also resigned his seat in parliament, downplaying his responsibility in the economic crisis that has brought the population to its knees. But the head of state says he cannot leave office in defeat and wants to finish his term. Protesters' anger: 'He admits in his own words that he has failed miserably'.

The order was issued by the Supreme Court after considering three fundamental rights petitions. Duminda Silva had been sentenced to death for the murder of another former MP. His release last year had drawn criticism from civil society.

Father Jeevantha Peiris was sanctioned along with other activists for filing a complaint in connection with violence by pro-government supporters on 9 May at the protest camp set up near the Presidential Secretariat. The government wants “to make the victims more vulnerable,” the priest told AsiaNews, but “the struggle cannot be stopped”.

No economic recovery plan can work without strong action against kleptocratic practices. The NGO makes 15 recommendations for Sri Lankan leaders. They include an open digital platform on donations and loans and use of funds, external audits of public companies and the establishment of an Authority for the recovery and management of illegally acquired assets held abroad.

The new prime minister said he was forced to print money to pay civil servants. However, the manoeuvre will lead to the depreciation of the rupee. The Inter-University Student Federation demands not only the resignation of the government, but a new political system.

Card Malcolm Ranjith reiterated the right to protest peacefully, urging President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to follow his brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, and resign. Several cars and homes owned by politicians were set on fire. A curfew is in place across the country until 7am tomorrow.

For the second time in a few weeks, the president uses an iron fist to stop protesters demanding the government’s resignation due to the country’s severe economic crisis. Yesterday, the mass strike brought the whole island nation to a standstill with more than a thousand trade union from all sectors joining in.

Despite the economic crisis, Muslims celebrated Eid al-Fitr with joy and renewed hope. Young people seek an end to sectarian divisions. In the meantime, protests against the high cost of living and calls for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa continue.

The Christian Workers' Fellowship organised a procession to mark the annual event. Participants later joined anti-government protest. Rev Marimuttu Sathivel called for action to “protect oppressed workers from further exhaustion and defeats.”