Nearly a week after nominations closed for the November 14th parliamentary polls in Sri Lanka, Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is insisting that he has not retired from politics but has only stepped away temporarily. Watch in for more details!

Sri Lanka: Rajapaksas Not Out Of Sri Lanka Politics

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has allowed proceedings of a case filed by a rights group against the Rajapaksa clan, alleging that the members of the powerful family were directly responsible for the country's foreign debt and the worst economic crisis.

Sri Lanka top court permits proceedings against Rajapaksas

In Sri Lanka, it was a day of violence today, at least 5 people were killed, more than 190 injured in a wave of violence. These clashes were between Rajapaksa supporters and the anti-government demonstrators. Currently, authorities have imposed an indefinite curfew across the country

Sri Lanka's day of violence, over 190 injured in protests

Even as economic and political crisis continues in Sri Lanka,&nbsp;Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that he is ready to quit but&nbsp;no request has been made by his younger brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

“If the President tells me to go, I will leave immediately. But there has been no such request," the Prime Minister said.&nbsp;

Ranjith Siyambalapitya has also confirmed&nbsp;that president has accepted his resignation letter from the post of Deputy Speaker. Vote for the new Deputy Speaker will be held on May 5.&nbsp;

The main opposition party of the country has also sought the no-confidence vote to oust the PM and his Cabinet, media reports said. &nbsp;

The party has also blamed them for not being able to ensure decent standard of&nbsp;living&nbsp;in the country. &nbsp;

Led by leader Sajith Premadasa, a group of lawmakers from United People's Force party delivered the motion&nbsp;of holding no-confidence parliamentary vote&nbsp;to Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Tuesday. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-hikes-medicine-prices-amid-financial-crisis-475166" hreflang="en">Sri Lanka hikes medicine prices amid financial crisis</a>

This comes as the island nation witnesses its worst economic crisis. Several protests have also been held by protesters across the country to demand the resignation of the PM and president. &nbsp;

The demonstrators hold the leaders responsible for the economic crisis. &nbsp;

To remove Rajapaksa and his Cabinet, a majority vote is needed in the 225-member Parliament. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Sri Lanka Crisis &amp; Chaos: Rajapaksas, SLPP decide to form interim govt

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sri-lanka-crisis-chaos-rajapaksas-slpp-decide-to-form-interim-govt-476108/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Although United People's Force has only 54 votes, it looks to win votes of small opposition parties and defections from the ruling Sri Lanka People's Front party.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The decision over the date of holding no-confidence vote is expected after members of Parliament meet on Wednesday. &nbsp;

A no-confidence motion was also delivered by the party to target the president but it is not likely to force him to resign even if lawmakers vote against him. &nbsp;&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Even as economic and political crisis continues in Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that he is ready to quit but no request has been made by his younger brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Even as economic and political crisis continues in Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that he is ready to quit but no request has been made by his younger brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. “If the President tells me to go, I will leave immediately. But there has been no such request," the Prime Minister said. Ranjith Siyambalapitya has also confirmed that president has accepted his resignation letter from the post of Deputy Speaker. Vote for the new Deputy Speaker will be held on May 5. The main opposition party of the country has also sought the no-confidence vote to oust the PM and his Cabinet, media reports said. The party has also blamed them for not being able to ensure decent standard of living in the country. Led by leader Sajith Premadasa, a group of lawmakers from United People's Force party delivered the motion of holding no-confidence parliamentary vote to Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Tuesday. Also Read: Sri Lanka hikes medicine prices amid financial crisis This comes as the island nation witnesses its worst economic crisis. Several protests have also been held by protesters across the country to demand the resignation of the PM and president. The demonstrators hold the leaders responsible for the economic crisis. To remove Rajapaksa and his Cabinet, a majority vote is needed in the 225-member Parliament. Watch: Sri Lanka Crisis & Chaos: Rajapaksas, SLPP decide to form interim govt × Although United People's Force has only 54 votes, it looks to win votes of small opposition parties and defections from the ruling Sri Lanka People's Front party. The decision over the date of holding no-confidence vote is expected after members of Parliament meet on Wednesday. A no-confidence motion was also delivered by the party to target the president but it is not likely to force him to resign even if lawmakers vote against him. WATCH WION LIVE HERE (With inputs from agencies)

Sri Lanka crisis: PM insists no request from President to quit as Parliament meets

Sri Lanka's main opposition party submitted no-trust motions against the Rajapaksa brothers. This comes amid reports that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa might resign. Palki Sharma tells you more about the political crisis in Sri Lanka.

Gravitas: Mahinda Rajapaksa to step down?

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) agreed to form an interim government. The decision was taken when a group of independent MPs met SLPP representatives in presence of Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Sri Lanka Crisis & Chaos: Rajapaksas, SLPP decide to form interim govt

Despite nationwide protests Sri Lanka's president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said that he will not resign and that he will only step down if he loses the majority in the parliament. However, in the latest President has agreed to form an all-party government in the ruling coalition.

Sri Lanka economic crisis worsens, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa refuses to resign agrees for 'all-party' govt

LPG prices in Sri Lanka have doubled. China is upset with Colombo over IMF bailout. Gotabaya Rajapaksa says he has no problem with an all-party govt. Palki Sharma Upadhyay brings you the latest on the Lankan crisis.

Gravitas: Sri Lanka: Gotabaya waves the green flag on all-party government

The Rajapaksas are fighting to keep power. But a report has claimed all this not well between the brothers. Is President Gotabaya Rajapaksa & his brother PM Mahinda Rajapaksa not on the same page? Molly Gambhir brings you a report.

Gravitas: The Rajapaksas: A divided house?

The police in Sri Lanka fired at anti-government protesters yesterday. One of the protesters died. Slamming the government, the Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa has called the Rajapaksa administration "a terrorist government". Molly Gambhir has more.

Gravitas: Killing of a protester sparks outrage in Sri Lanka

As Sri Lanka plunges into its worst financial crisis in history, calls for the Rajapaksas' resignation grow louder. Mariam Wardak explains how the South Asian country found itself in the middle of this mess and the way out for Colombo in this week's South Asia Diary.

South Asia Diary | Sri Lanka Economic Crisis

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed a new cabinet today. Can it help the Rajapaksas survive the no-confidence vote? Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Can a cabinet reshuffle save the Rajapaksas?

Sri Lanka will default on its debt for the first time in its independent history. The opposition parties have now decided to push for the ouster of the Rajapaksas. What's their plan? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Sri Lanka: Opposition's plan to oust Rajapaksas revealed

Sri Lanka's economic crisis is worsening. The Sri Lankan rupee is now the world's worst-performing currency. Now even the powerful monks of Sri Lanka are turning against the Rajapaksas. Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you more.

Gravitas: Will the monks end the reign of Rajapaksas?

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa suffered a series of setbacks today. First, the newly appointed Finance Minister quit within 24 hours. Then, 41 lawmakers walked out of the ruling alliance. Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you more.

Gravitas: Rajapaksas lose majority in parliament

The IMF says it is closely monitoring the situation in Sri Lanka. Is an IMF bail-out the only option for Colombo? Why are the Rajapaksas wary about reaching out to the IMF? Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you.

Gravitas: How can Sri Lanka escape this mess?

A Sri Lanka court Wednesday freed on bail the country's top detective after 10 months behind bars, in a case that attracted international condemnation of Colombo's human rights record.

The Court of Appeal asked a lower court to free Shani Abeysekara and another detective who had been accused of falsifying evidence in a trial that led to the conviction of a senior policeman for murder.

"They were ordered to be released on personal bail of one million rupees ($5,000) each," a court official said.

Abeysekara was the head of the Criminal Investigation Department which was investigating high-profile corruption cases and murders involving members of the powerful Rajapaksa family and their associates.

Soon after Gotabaya Rajapaksa won the presidency in November 2019, Abeysekara was dismissed and was arrested on what rights activists say were false allegations.

The European Parliament last week singled out Abeysekara's incarceration as an example of Sri Lanka's persecution of individuals who were seen as a threat to the administration.

The EU parliament asked Sri Lanka to either charge Abeysekara or release him unconditionally along with two others -- human rights lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah and poet Ahnaf Jazeem.

Their names have also figured in a United Nations Human Rights Council censure earlier this year of the South Asian nation's worsening human rights record.

The powerful Rajapaksa clan has held sway over the island nation's politics since 2005, as well as having a major influence in key state institutions.

A constitutional amendment has given Rajapaksa more powers over the judiciary as well as the public service.

UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet last year called for "renewed attention" to increasing intimidation of journalists, lawyers and rights activists.

A Sri Lanka court Wednesday freed on bail the country's top detective after 10 months behind bars, in a case that attracted international condemnation of Colombo's human rights record.

A Sri Lanka court Wednesday freed on bail the country's top detective after 10 months behind bars, in a case that attracted international condemnation of Colombo's human rights record. The Court of Appeal asked a lower court to free Shani Abeysekara and another detective who had been accused of falsifying evidence in a trial that led to the conviction of a senior policeman for murder. "They were ordered to be released on personal bail of one million rupees ($5,000) each," a court official said. Abeysekara was the head of the Criminal Investigation Department which was investigating high-profile corruption cases and murders involving members of the powerful Rajapaksa family and their associates. Soon after Gotabaya Rajapaksa won the presidency in November 2019, Abeysekara was dismissed and was arrested on what rights activists say were false allegations. The European Parliament last week singled out Abeysekara's incarceration as an example of Sri Lanka's persecution of individuals who were seen as a threat to the administration. The EU parliament asked Sri Lanka to either charge Abeysekara or release him unconditionally along with two others -- human rights lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah and poet Ahnaf Jazeem. Their names have also figured in a United Nations Human Rights Council censure earlier this year of the South Asian nation's worsening human rights record. The powerful Rajapaksa clan has held sway over the island nation's politics since 2005, as well as having a major influence in key state institutions. A constitutional amendment has given Rajapaksa more powers over the judiciary as well as the public service. UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet last year called for "renewed attention" to increasing intimidation of journalists, lawyers and rights activists.

Sri Lanka court frees top detective probing Rajapaksas

Meet the Rajapaksa dynasty: Patriarch, 'Terminator', 'Mr Ten Percent', 'bodyguard' and scion

Sri Lanka's strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa staged a political comeback on Friday as his party registered a landslide victory in the twice-postponed general elections, according to the final results released by the elections commission.

Sri Lanka: Rajapaksas to form the government again

Rajapaksas Take Complete Control In The Island Nation Of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka: The tale of two brothers | Gravitas

Gravitas: Sri Lanka: Gotabaya Rajapaksa Takes Charge

rajapaksas

Rajapaksas, News on Rajapaksas, stories on Rajapaksas, articles on Rajapaksas, Rajapaksas stories at Wion, Rajapaksas news, Rajapaksas latest news