<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="58">A Sri Lankan rap song, featuring WION's report on the debt-ridden island nation's worst economic crisis since independence, is going viral on the internet.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="59">The song, which begins with a voiceover from a Gravitas report by WION's Executive Editor, Palki Sharma Upadhyay, has already racked up over 160,000 views in only one day.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="60">The song has gone viral in a big way, and the lyrics are spot on with the debt-ridden country's present situation. The title of the song is <strong>"Power To The People."</strong></p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="60"><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lankan-rupee-is-now-the-worlds-worst-performing-currency-468828"><strong>Also read | Sri Lankan rupee is now the world’s worst-performing currency</strong></a></p>

<p data-changed="false" data-from-init="true" data-paragraphid="61">The song was written and sung by the Los Angeles-based Sri Lankan rapper Jay Princce.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="62">Here are the lyrics:</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="63"><strong><em>"Power to the people overcoming all this evil"</em></strong></p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="64"><strong><em>"Corruption had its limit ima the thread the f****** needle"</em></strong></p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="65"><strong><em>"How they moving crooked dawg is this not illegal"</em></strong></p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="66"><strong><em>"Ima hold it down cuz this here for my people"</em></strong></p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="67"><strong><em>"It is not a debate"</em></strong></p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="68"><strong><em>"Aint no food all on they plate"</em></strong></p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="69"><strong><em>"power cuts and no gas"</em></strong></p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="70"><strong><em>"really no one left to pay"</em></strong></p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="71"><strong><em>"but printed heavy cash"</em></strong></p>

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<p>Sri Lanka has been roiled by violent protests for the past week, as public outrage over the government's handling of the island's economic crisis has spilled into the streets.Much has happened since then.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="73">Many protestors disobeyed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's 36-hour curfew.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="74">He subsequently declared a state of emergency, which was widely condemned by the public and opposition MPs until being repealed by the President earlier today.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="75">According to critics, the foundation of the crisis, which is the worst in decades, is economic mismanagement by successive governments, which established and maintained a dual deficit - a budget deficit as well as a current account deficit.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="76">Foreign exchange reserves have plummeted by 70% in the last two years, to just $2.31 billion in February, leaving Sri Lanka unable to import basic necessities such as food and fuel.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="77"><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A Sri Lankan rap song, featuring WION's report on the debt-ridden island nation's worst economic crisis since independence, is going viral on the internet. The song, which begins with a voiceover from a Gravitas report by WION's Executive Editor, Palki Sharma Upadhyay, has already racked up over 160,000 views in only one day.

A Sri Lankan rap song, featuring WION's report on the debt-ridden island nation's worst economic crisis since independence, is going viral on the internet. The song, which begins with a voiceover from a Gravitas report by WION's Executive Editor, Palki Sharma Upadhyay, has already racked up over 160,000 views in only one day. The song has gone viral in a big way, and the lyrics are spot on with the debt-ridden country's present situation. The title of the song is "Power To The People." Also read | Sri Lankan rupee is now the world’s worst-performing currency The song was written and sung by the Los Angeles-based Sri Lankan rapper Jay Princce. Here are the lyrics: "Power to the people overcoming all this evil" "Corruption had its limit ima the thread the f****** needle" "How they moving crooked dawg is this not illegal" "Ima hold it down cuz this here for my people" "It is not a debate" "Aint no food all on they plate" "power cuts and no gas" "really no one left to pay" "but printed heavy cash" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jay Princce (@salutevadha) × Sri Lanka has been roiled by violent protests for the past week, as public outrage over the government's handling of the island's economic crisis has spilled into the streets.Much has happened since then. Many protestors disobeyed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's 36-hour curfew. He subsequently declared a state of emergency, which was widely condemned by the public and opposition MPs until being repealed by the President earlier today. According to critics, the foundation of the crisis, which is the worst in decades, is economic mismanagement by successive governments, which established and maintained a dual deficit - a budget deficit as well as a current account deficit. Foreign exchange reserves have plummeted by 70% in the last two years, to just $2.31 billion in February, leaving Sri Lanka unable to import basic necessities such as food and fuel. (With inputs from agencies)

'Power to the people': Rap song featuring WION's report on Sri Lanka economic crisis goes viral

<p>Sri Lanka's rupee has plummeted to a historic low, making it the world's poorest-performing currency, adding to the country's greatest economic crisis since independence in 1948.</p>

<p>"After Rajapaksa ended emergency rule mere days after it was established, the Sri Lankan rupee hovered near Sri Lankan Rupee 302.04 per US dollar on Wednesday, trailing even Russia's rouble." According to the Financial Times.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last Monday, the 22-million-strong island nation's diesel supply ran out, causing a massive power outage.</p>

<p>The economic crisis brought on by a low foreign exchange reserve has spurred anti-government protests around the country, some of which have become violent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sri Lanka has been roiled by violent protests for the past week, as public outrage over the government's handling of the island's economic crisis has spilled into the streets.Much has happened since then.</p>

<p>Many protestors disobeyed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's 36-hour curfew.He subsequently declared a state of emergency, which was widely condemned by the public and opposition MPs until being repealed by the President earlier today.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/rice-from-india-to-arrive-in-the-country-soon-says-indian-envoy-to-sri-lanka-gopal-baglay-468358">Also Read:&nbsp;Rice from India to arrive in the country soon,' says Indian envoy to Sri Lanka</a>&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to critics, the foundation of the crisis, which is the worst in decades, is economic mismanagement by successive governments, which established and maintained a dual deficit—a budget deficit as well as a current account deficit.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lankan-medical-body-declares-health-emergency-amid-political-turmoil-report-468449">Also Read|&nbsp;Sri Lankan medical body declares health emergency amid political turmoil: Report</a></p>

<p>Sri Lanka's foreign exchange reserves have plummeted by 70% in the last two years, to just $2.31 billion in February, leaving Sri Lanka unable to import basic necessities such as food and fuel.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Sri Lanka's rupee has plummeted to a historic low, making it the world's poorest-performing currency, adding to the country's greatest economic crisis since independence in 1948.

Sri Lanka's rupee has plummeted to a historic low, making it the world's poorest-performing currency, adding to the country's greatest economic crisis since independence in 1948. "After Rajapaksa ended emergency rule mere days after it was established, the Sri Lankan rupee hovered near Sri Lankan Rupee 302.04 per US dollar on Wednesday, trailing even Russia's rouble." According to the Financial Times. Last Monday, the 22-million-strong island nation's diesel supply ran out, causing a massive power outage. The economic crisis brought on by a low foreign exchange reserve has spurred anti-government protests around the country, some of which have become violent. Sri Lanka has been roiled by violent protests for the past week, as public outrage over the government's handling of the island's economic crisis has spilled into the streets.Much has happened since then. Many protestors disobeyed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's 36-hour curfew.He subsequently declared a state of emergency, which was widely condemned by the public and opposition MPs until being repealed by the President earlier today. Also Read: Rice from India to arrive in the country soon,' says Indian envoy to Sri Lanka According to critics, the foundation of the crisis, which is the worst in decades, is economic mismanagement by successive governments, which established and maintained a dual deficit—a budget deficit as well as a current account deficit. Also Read| Sri Lankan medical body declares health emergency amid political turmoil: Report Sri Lanka's foreign exchange reserves have plummeted by 70% in the last two years, to just $2.31 billion in February, leaving Sri Lanka unable to import basic necessities such as food and fuel. (With inputs from agencies)

Sri Lankan rupee is now the world’s worst-performing currency

<p>Sri Lanka's newly appointed finance minister MUM Ali Sabry quit his post in just one day amid escalating political situation in the country.</p>

<p>In a letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sabry said he had decided to take up the post of finance minister as an "interim measure" until a "suitable, full-time and sustainable solution could be found".</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lankan-medical-body-declares-health-emergency-amid-political-turmoil-report-468449">Also Read|&nbsp;Sri Lankan medical body declares health emergency amid political turmoil: Report</a></p>

<p>The former justice minister said "fresh and proactive" steps need to be taken in order to navigate the present "unprecedented crisis".</p>

<p>Sabry put in his papers leaving the finance ministry post with "immediate effect". Sabri also mentioned that he was ready to step down from his Parliamentary seat if the president intended to appoint a person from outside the current Parliament.</p>

<p>Rajapaksa's cabinet was thrown into turmoil after all ministers resigned over the weekend amid anti-government demonstrations. The country's economy has been hit by rising fuel prices and inflation with its foreign reserves at an all-time low as the country has struggled to service its rising foreign debt.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Sri Lankan Parliament reconvenes amid calls for Rajapaksa to step down</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sri-lankan-parliament-reconvenes-amid-calls-for-rajapaksa-to-step-down-468465/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it was monitoring Sri Lanka's situation amid reports of a bailout even as President Rajapaksa called all opposition parties to come together to form a unity government. However, opposition leaders rejected the move as protests escalated against the government.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/rice-from-india-to-arrive-in-the-country-soon-says-indian-envoy-to-sri-lanka-gopal-baglay-468358">Also Read:&nbsp;Rice from India to arrive in the country soon,' says Indian envoy to Sri Lanka</a>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rajapaksa's government was thrown into further trouble as 41 lawmakers walked out of the coalition as the government lost its majority in Parliament on Tuesday.</p>

<p>Sri Lanka's parliament is set to reconvene just days after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency in the country to combat the economic situation as protesters came out on the streets despite a nationwide curfew.</p>

<p>(With inputs from Agencies)</p>


Sri Lanka's newly appointed finance minister MUM Ali Sabry quit his post in just one day amid escalating political situation in the country. In a letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sabry said he had decided to take up the post of finance minister as an "interim measure" until a "suitable, full-time and sustainable solution could be found".

Sri Lanka's newly appointed finance minister MUM Ali Sabry quit his post in just one day amid escalating political situation in the country. In a letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sabry said he had decided to take up the post of finance minister as an "interim measure" until a "suitable, full-time and sustainable solution could be found". Also Read| Sri Lankan medical body declares health emergency amid political turmoil: Report The former justice minister said "fresh and proactive" steps need to be taken in order to navigate the present "unprecedented crisis". Sabry put in his papers leaving the finance ministry post with "immediate effect". Sabri also mentioned that he was ready to step down from his Parliamentary seat if the president intended to appoint a person from outside the current Parliament. Rajapaksa's cabinet was thrown into turmoil after all ministers resigned over the weekend amid anti-government demonstrations. The country's economy has been hit by rising fuel prices and inflation with its foreign reserves at an all-time low as the country has struggled to service its rising foreign debt. Watch: Sri Lankan Parliament reconvenes amid calls for Rajapaksa to step down The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it was monitoring Sri Lanka's situation amid reports of a bailout even as President Rajapaksa called all opposition parties to come together to form a unity government. However, opposition leaders rejected the move as protests escalated against the government. Also Read: Rice from India to arrive in the country soon,' says Indian envoy to Sri Lanka Rajapaksa's government was thrown into further trouble as 41 lawmakers walked out of the coalition as the government lost its majority in Parliament on Tuesday. Sri Lanka's parliament is set to reconvene just days after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency in the country to combat the economic situation as protesters came out on the streets despite a nationwide curfew. (With inputs from Agencies)

Sri Lanka's newly-appointed finance minister quits after just one day

<p>A rift between Sri Lanka's president and prime minister, which sparked a crisis last year, came under scrutiny on Monday a day after a series of deadly bomb blasts, with questions over <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-memo-circulated-a-day-before-had-warned-of-attack-212458">how the government handled a recent warning</a> of an attack.</p>

<p>The premier has been kept out of intelligence briefings since he fell out with the president, a government minister said, a day after Easter attacks on churches and hotels killed 290 people and wounded nearly 500.</p>

<p>Police had been warned this month about a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-says-local-militant-group-national-thowheed-jamath-behind-easter-sunday-blasts-212556">possible attack on churches by a little-known domestic Islamist group</a>, according to a document seen by Reuters.</p>

<p>But Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had not been told of the report, dated April 11, that said a foreign intelligence agency had warned of attacks on churches by a domestic militant group called the National Thawheed Jama'ut, Health Minister Rajith Senaratne told reporters.</p>

<p>It was not immediately clear what action, if any, was taken in response to the tip-off.</p>

<p>"When we asked about the intelligence report, the prime minister was not aware of this," said Senaratne, who also briefs reporters on the deliberations of the cabinet.</p>

<p>It was not clear if the president, Maithripala Sirisena, was aware of the report but the top security organisation, the Security Council, reports to him, while the prime minister was no longer invited to council meetings because of the rift, Senaratne said.</p>

<p>The president was out of the country when the bombers struck. His office declined to comment.</p>

<p>"As a government, we have to say very, very sorry and we have to apologise to the families and their institutions about this incident," said Senaratne.</p>

<p>The president fired Wickremesinghe last October over political differences, only to reinstate him weeks later under pressure from the Supreme Court.&nbsp;<br />
Their relationship has not improved and their differences have delayed government decisions, politicians say.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Sunday, with the president on a foreign trip and the country shaken by the suicide attacks, Wickremesinghe called a Security Council meeting but its members failed to show up, Senaratne said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This is the first time in history we have seen that the Security Council refused to come for a meeting with the country`s prime minister," he said.</p>

<p>On Monday, Wickremesinghe attended a council meeting called by Sirisena after his return. It was the prime minister`s first council meeting since the political crisis, his office said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Senaratne said security forces had raided training sites of the National Thawheed Jama'ut. The government also believed there were international links to the attacks.</p>

<p>"We don't think a small organisation can do all that. We are now investigating international support for them and their other links - how they produced the suicide bombers and bombs like this," he said.</p>

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A rift between Sri Lanka's president and prime minister, which sparked a crisis last year, came under scrutiny on Monday a day after a series of deadly bomb blasts, with questions over how the government handled a recent warning of an attack.

A rift between Sri Lanka's president and prime minister, which sparked a crisis last year, came under scrutiny on Monday a day after a series of deadly bomb blasts, with questions over how the government handled a recent warning of an attack. The premier has been kept out of intelligence briefings since he fell out with the president, a government minister said, a day after Easter attacks on churches and hotels killed 290 people and wounded nearly 500. Police had been warned this month about a possible attack on churches by a little-known domestic Islamist group, according to a document seen by Reuters. But Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had not been told of the report, dated April 11, that said a foreign intelligence agency had warned of attacks on churches by a domestic militant group called the National Thawheed Jama'ut, Health Minister Rajith Senaratne told reporters. It was not immediately clear what action, if any, was taken in response to the tip-off. "When we asked about the intelligence report, the prime minister was not aware of this," said Senaratne, who also briefs reporters on the deliberations of the cabinet. It was not clear if the president, Maithripala Sirisena, was aware of the report but the top security organisation, the Security Council, reports to him, while the prime minister was no longer invited to council meetings because of the rift, Senaratne said. The president was out of the country when the bombers struck. His office declined to comment. "As a government, we have to say very, very sorry and we have to apologise to the families and their institutions about this incident," said Senaratne. The president fired Wickremesinghe last October over political differences, only to reinstate him weeks later under pressure from the Supreme Court. Their relationship has not improved and their differences have delayed government decisions, politicians say. On Sunday, with the president on a foreign trip and the country shaken by the suicide attacks, Wickremesinghe called a Security Council meeting but its members failed to show up, Senaratne said. "This is the first time in history we have seen that the Security Council refused to come for a meeting with the country`s prime minister," he said. On Monday, Wickremesinghe attended a council meeting called by Sirisena after his return. It was the prime minister`s first council meeting since the political crisis, his office said. Senaratne said security forces had raided training sites of the National Thawheed Jama'ut. The government also believed there were international links to the attacks. "We don't think a small organisation can do all that. We are now investigating international support for them and their other links - how they produced the suicide bombers and bombs like this," he said. ×

Sri Lanka PM not alerted to warning of attack because of feud: Health minister