UN chief calls for peaceful, democratic transition of power in Lanka

ECONOMYNEXT –Addressing the root causes of Sri Lanka’s ongoing unrest is important, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres said, urging all party leaders to work toward a peaceful and democratic transition of power.

“I continue to follow the situation in Sri Lanka very closely. It is important that the root causes of the conflict and protestors’ grievances are addressed. I urge all party leaders to embrace the spirit of compromise for a peaceful and democratic transition,” he tweeted Thursday July 14 morning, Sri Lanka time.

Sri Lanka, going through its worst economic crisis since Independence, saw a fresh wave of intense protest on Wednesday July 13 with hundreds of people storming and occupying the prime minister’s office, with more protesters later headed towards parliament despite a curfew and state of emergency declared by Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

A curfew declared overnight ended at 5am on July 14 with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa failing to resign as promised while protestors engaged in overnight battles with police and security forces near the parliament complex.

Police tear-gassed drove away protestors, led by a core of university students, near the parliament junction late in to the night led by a core of university students and activists.Students also claimed they were batton-charged and were looking for sticks and clubs to retaliate. Over 40 persons were hospitalised.