Sri Lanka in crisis after president flees

By Rob Picheta, Aditi Sangal and Adrienne Vogt, CNN

Updated 4:24 p.m. ET, July 13, 2022
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3:47 p.m. ET, July 13, 2022

Colombo National Hospital: At least 75 people injured in Sri Lanka during protests Wednesday  

From Rukshana Rizwie in Colombo

Protesters gather around an ambulance carrying injured after clashes with police near parliament in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 13.
Protesters gather around an ambulance carrying injured after clashes with police near parliament in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 13. (Eranga Jayawardena/AP)

At least 75 people have been injured from protests in Sri Lanka on Wednesday, according to the National Hospital in Colombo.

Of those injured, 42 are from the storming of the prime minister’s office and 33 from the protests near the parliament. 

Earlier in the day Sri Lankan police used tear gas to disperse protesters and according to a nurse at the hospital, many people were brought in due to tear gas inhalation, others with cuts and bruises likely from trying to jump over fences.

2:31 p.m. ET, July 13, 2022

Sri Lanka's acting president imposes night curfew

From CNN's Jennifer Hauser

Sri Lanka's acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has officially imposed a night curfew until 5 a.m. local time on Thursday, according to an official ordinance.

Before his official appointment as acting president, Wickremesinghe had tried to impose a curfew but later retracted the order.

According to the ordinance, "no person shall be on any public road, railway, public park, public recreation ground or other public ground or the seashore in such areas, from 12.00 hour of July 13th, 2022 to 05.00 hour of July 14th, 2022."

11:18 a.m. ET, July 13, 2022

Here's what life is like in Sri Lanka in the midst of its economic crisis

From CNN's Heather Chen

A man carries a Liquefied Petroleum Gas cylinder after collecting it at distribution point in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 12.
A man carries a Liquefied Petroleum Gas cylinder after collecting it at distribution point in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 12. (Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images)

Sri Lanka, an island nation of 22 million, is suffering from its worst financial crisis since it gained independence in 1948.

Crippling inflation is sending the cost of basic goods skyrocketing. Its foreign exchange reserves plummeted to record lows, with dollars running out to pay for essential imports including food, medicine and fuel.

Government ministers were resigning en masse and Sri Lankans are out on the streets to protest as the crisis has turned their daily lives into an endless cycle of waiting in lines for basic goods, many of which are being rationed.

Despite earlier efforts by the government to ease the crisis, like the introduction of a four-day work week, then-Prime Minister Wickremesinghe declared the country "bankrupt" last Tuesday.

In several major cities including the capital, Colombo, desperate residents continue to queue for food and medicine, with reports of civilians clashing with police and the military as they wait in line.
In early July, Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said the country had less than a day's worth of fuel left.
Trains have reduced in frequency, forcing travelers to squeeze into compartments and even sit precariously on top of them as they commute to work.
Patients are unable to travel to hospitals due to the fuel shortage and food prices are soaring. Rice, a staple in the South Asian nation, has disappeared from shelves in many shops and supermarkets.

How we got here: The crisis has been years in the making, said experts, who point to a series of government decisions that compounded external shocks.

Over the past decade, the Sri Lankan government has borrowed vast sums of money from foreign lenders to fund public services, said Murtaza Jafferjee, chair of Colombo-based think tank Advocata Institute.

This borrowing spree has coincided with a series of hammer blows to the Sri Lankan economy, from both natural disasters — such as heavy monsoons — to man-made catastrophes, including a government ban on chemical fertilizers that decimated farmers' harvests.

Facing a massive deficit, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa slashed taxes in a doomed attempt to stimulate the economy.

But the move backfired, instead hitting government revenue. That prompted rating agencies to downgrade Sri Lanka to near default levels, meaning the country lost access to overseas markets.

Sri Lanka then had to fall back on its foreign exchange reserves to pay off government debt, shrinking its reserves. This impacted imports of fuel and other essentials, which sent prices soaring.

Topping all that, the government in March floated the Sri Lankan rupee — meaning its price was determined based on the demand and supply of foreign exchange markets.

However, the plunging of the rupee against the US dollar only made things worse for ordinary Sri Lankans.

Public frustration and anger erupted on March 31, when demonstrators hurled bricks and started fires outside the President's private residence. On Saturday, protests boiled over as people stormed the residence, calling for his resignation. In the latest developments, President Rajapaksa fled to Maldives and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe was appointed as acting president. Currently, Sri Lankans are still protesting on the streets and there is a lot of uncertainty over who is in charge and what the outcome of this turmoil will be.

10:18 a.m. ET, July 13, 2022

UN Human Rights office calls for peace in Sri Lanka

From CNN's Martin Goillandeau

The United Nations Human Rights office called on all sides of the political crisis in Sri Lanka “to refrain from violence” to ensure a “peaceful political transition��� in a tweet on Wednesday.

“Leaders must call for respect of life+property. Security forces incl military must respect human rights & exercise restraint,” the tweet read.

9:28 a.m. ET, July 13, 2022

Crowds of protesters gather outside Sri Lankan parliament speaker's office

From Rukshana Rizwie in Colombo

Crowds of protesters in Colombo have now amassed outside the Sri Lankan parliament speaker’s office, video from the scene shows.

Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said during a televised briefing earlier Wednesday that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had confirmed his resignation to him via a phone call, but that he was still waiting on the formal letter. 

As per Sri Lanka’s constitution, Rajapaksa’s resignation is only considered official once the Speaker of the Parliament receives a letter of resignation.

Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives with first lady Ioma Rajapaksa earlier Wednesday. 

9:28 a.m. ET, July 13, 2022

Sri Lanka's parliament speaker says president confirmed resignation but official letter is still needed

From CNN's Rukshana Rizwie in Colombo

Sri Lanka’s speaker of the parliament said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa confirmed his resignation over the phone on Wednesday, but that he is still waiting for the official document confirming it.

“With regards to an official document signifying it, I was told that it would reach me within the day today," Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said during a televised briefing.

Rajapaksa was due to formally resign on Wednesday after being forced to step down in the wake of months-long protests over the nation's crippling economic crisis.

Sri Lanka People's Front party presidential election candidate and former wartime defence chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa leaves after casting his vote during the presidential election in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Novermber 16, 2019.
Sri Lanka People's Front party presidential election candidate and former wartime defence chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa leaves after casting his vote during the presidential election in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Novermber 16, 2019. (Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters)

Remember: As per Sri Lanka’s constitution, Rajapaksa’s resignation is only considered official once the Speaker of the Parliament receives a letter of resignation.

Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives with first lady Ioma Rajapaksa earlier Wednesday. 

8:57 a.m. ET, July 13, 2022

In pictures: Turmoil in Sri Lanka as protesters storm prime minister's office

Protesters in Sri Lanka stormed the prime minister’s office on Wednesday, demanding the country’s leaders step down after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives without resigning.

See images from the ground in the commercial capital of Colombo here:

Demonstrators celebrate after they entered into Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office during a protest demanding for his resignation in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 13.
Demonstrators celebrate after they entered into Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office during a protest demanding for his resignation in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 13. (Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters)

Demonstrators shout slogans and wave Sri Lankan flags during an anti-government protest inside the office building of Sri Lanka's prime minister in Colombo on July 13.
Demonstrators shout slogans and wave Sri Lankan flags during an anti-government protest inside the office building of Sri Lanka's prime minister in Colombo on July 13. (Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images)

Protesters climb the front gate of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office during a protest in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 13.
Protesters climb the front gate of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office during a protest in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 13. (Adnan Abidi/Reuters)

Army personnel use tear gas to disperse demonstrators during an anti-government protest outside the office of Sri Lanka's prime minister in Colombo on July 13.
Army personnel use tear gas to disperse demonstrators during an anti-government protest outside the office of Sri Lanka's prime minister in Colombo on July 13. (Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images)

A protester confronts soldiers during a protest outside the office of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on July 13, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
A protester confronts soldiers during a protest outside the office of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on July 13, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images)

A protester wearing swimming goggles shouts slogans during a protest outside the office of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on July 13, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
A protester wearing swimming goggles shouts slogans during a protest outside the office of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on July 13, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images)

People carry an injured protester during a protest outside Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 13.
People carry an injured protester during a protest outside Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 13. (Adnan Abidi/Reuters)

Demonstrators gather outside the office of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 13.
Demonstrators gather outside the office of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 13. (Adnan Abidi/Reuters)

Military personnel in gas masks stand guard during a protest by people seeking the ouster of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe amid the ongoing crisis in Colombo on July 13.
Military personnel in gas masks stand guard during a protest by people seeking the ouster of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe amid the ongoing crisis in Colombo on July 13. (Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images)

8:13 a.m. ET, July 13, 2022

Sri Lanka in chaos as protests force president to flee. Here’s what you need to know

Protestors climb the front gate of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office during a protest in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 13.
Protestors climb the front gate of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office during a protest in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 13. (Adnan Abidi/Reuters)

Angry protesters have forced Sri Lanka’s president from the country and are calling for the government to fall. Here’s what you need to know at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, a day of chaos in the country.

  • Leader flees: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives without resigning, despite being expected to formally step down on Wednesday. He appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as its acting leader, citing a section of the constitution that allows a prime minister to "discharge the powers, duties and functions of the office of president" when the president is ill or "absent" from Sri Lanka.
  • Protesters storm government: Hundreds of demonstrators breached the compound of the prime minister's office in Sri Lanka's largest city Colombo on Wednesday and entered the premises, following a standoff with armed police at the gates of the property, according to footage from the scene and local witnesses.
  • Economic crisis: Rajapaksa’s departure further enraged protesters, who want both leaders to vacate their roles as the country's 22 million people struggle to buy basic goods, fuel and medicine.
  • State of emergency: As demonstrators took to the streets, Prime Minister's Wickremesinghe's office declared a state of emergency and a curfew, only to later cancel both orders. He has since appointed a committee of senior armed forces commanders to “restore law and order."
  • Broadcaster strikes deal: A handful of protesters also entered the premises of state broadcaster Sri Lanka Rupavahini on Wednesday, negotiating a "deal" with broadcast staff not to give airtime to politicians such as Wickremesinghe.
  • Long-term causes: An economic crisis that has gripped Sri Lanka was years in the making, according to analysts, with a series of government decisions compounding external shocks.
8:03 a.m. ET, July 13, 2022

Dozens injured in protests outside prime minister's office

From Rukshana Rizwie in Colombo 

Demonstrators carry an injured person during a clash in front of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 13.
Demonstrators carry an injured person during a clash in front of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 13. (Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters)

At least 30 people needed hospital treatment for injuries sustained in protests outside the Sri Lankan prime minister’s office on Wednesday. 

A nurse at Colombo National Hospital told CNN that many people were brought in due to tear gas inhalation, while others had cuts and bruises likely from trying to jump over fences. The nurse did not confirm any gunshot injuries.

The grounds of the prime minister’s office were taken over by protesters on Wednesday following a standoff with armed police at the gates of the property. 

Sri Lankan police have continued to use tear gas to disperse the crowds throughout the day, according to footage from the scene and local witnesses.