Sri Lankan immigration officials stopped the president's brother and former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa from flying out of the country on Tuesday, as anger mounted over the island's worst economic crisis in decades.
It was not clear where Rajapaksa, who also holds U.S. citizenship, was trying to go. He resigned as finance minister in early April as street protests surged against shortages of fuel, food and other necessities, and quit his seat in parliament in June.
"Given the unrest in Sri Lanka, immigration officials are under tremendous pressure to not allow top-level people to leave the country," K.A.S. Kanugala, chairman of the association, told Reuters. The Rajapaksa family, including former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, has dominated the politics of the country of 22 million for years and most Sri Lankans blame them for their current misery. Police have said that if a court ordered, they could investigate how about $50,000 in cash was found by protesters at the president's house.
In recent months, neighbour India has extended billions of dollars in loans to Sri Lanka to help pay for vital supplies. China has intervened less publicly but said it supports efforts for the island nation to restructure its debt.The tourism-dependent economy was hammered badly by the COVID-19 pandemic and a fall in remittances from overseas Sri Lankans, while a ban on chemical fertilisers damaged farm output. The ban was later reversed.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
Sri Lankan opposition meets to install new government amid turmoilSri Lanka's opposition political parties are meeting to install a new government a day after the president and prime minister offered to resign in the most dramatic day of monthslong political turmoil.
Les mer »
Sri Lankan President’s Silence Over Resignation Fuels Political AnxietySri Lankan politics were in turmoil as opposition parties worked to form an interim government, despite the country’s president not personally confirming that he would step down
Les mer »
Sri Lankan president to resign as protesters storm his home, set it on firePresident Gotabaya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka has announced he will resign Wednesday, per the parliamentary speaker.
Les mer »
Sri Lanka opposition meets to name new gov't amid turmoilPeople explore the presidential palace in Sri Lanka's capital a day after it was stormed by protesters. Protesters demanded the resignation of the president and prime minister amid rage over the country's economic crisis.
Les mer »
Sri Lanka Crisis Flashes Warning for Other Indebted EconomiesProtests in Sri Lanka, which forced out the president and prime minister, signal tough choices ahead for other countries with high debt and shortages of food and energy.
Les mer »