Sri Lanka parliament blocks move to condemn president as PM warns of 'terrifying' times

MPs vote 119 to 68 against fast-tracking the largely symbolic motion through parliament

People queue up to buy kerosene for domestic use at a supply station in Colombo on Tuesday. AFP
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Sri Lanka's parliament on Tuesday voted against fast-tracking an opposition move to condemn President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, as the prime minister warned that the country was in a precarious economic situation and down to its last day of petrol supplies.

Lawmakers voted 119 to 68 against fast-tracking the largely symbolic motion through parliament, which reconvened for the first time since violence flared last week and the prime minister quit. It is likely to be debated later in the week.

If the motion eventually passes, it could increase the pressure on the president to resign, following his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa who stood down as prime minister in response to the economic crisis that has triggered violent protests.

Ranil Wickremesinghe, the new prime minister, said in a televised address on Monday that the island nation had to face “unpleasant and terrifying facts”.

“At the moment, we only have petrol stocks for a single day. The next couple of months will be the most difficult ones of our lives,” he said.

Foreign reserves had come close to zero from $7.5 billion in November 2019, he added, with the country requiring $75 million in the next few days to keep the economy running. Essential medicines have run out.

Power cuts could extend to 15 hours a day because of the lack of fuel, which is mostly imported.

Mr Wickremesinghe said he planned to ask for foreign assistance, privatise Sri Lankan Airlines and seek parliamentary approval to increase Treasury bill issuance to 4 trillion rupees ($11.27 billion) from 3 trillion.

“For a short period, our future will be even more difficult than the tough times that we have passed,” he said.

Politicians arrested

More than a month of predominantly peaceful protests against the government's handling of the economy turned deadly last week when supporters of former the former prime minister stormed an anti-government protest site in the commercial capital, Colombo.

Days of subsequent clashes between protesters, government supporters and police left nine dead and more than 300 injured.

Mahinda Rajapaksa then resigned, leaving Gotabaya, his younger brother, to rule on as president.

Police said on Tuesday they had arrested two politicians from the Rajapaksas' Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna in connection with last week's violence.

'We have petrol stocks only for a single day', says Sri Lankan PM

People wait to buy petrol at a gas station amid fuel shortage in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 17 May 2022.  Protests have been rocking the country for weeks, calling for the resignation of the president over the alleged failure to address the worsening current economic crisis.  Sri Lanka faces its worst economic crisis in decades due to the lack of foreign exchange, resulting in severe shortages in food, fuel, medicine, and imported goods.   EPA / CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE

Sri Lanka's economic crisis, unparalleled since its independence in 1948, follows the Covid-19 pandemic, rising oil prices and populist tax cuts by the Rajapaksas.

The chronic foreign currency shortage has led to rampant inflation and shortages of medicine, fuel and other essentials, bringing thousands out on the streets in protest in the Indian Ocean nation, where China and India are battling for influence.

Mr Wickremesinghe's four cabinet appointments to date have all been from the Rajapaksas' party, to the dismay of protesters, who want to exile the family from the nation's politics.

He has yet to announce key portfolios including the crucial post of finance minister, who will negotiate with the International Monetary Fund for financial help.

Former finance minister Ali Sabry held preliminary talks with the multilateral lender, but he quit along with Mahinda Rajapaksa last week.

Updated: May 17, 2022, 4:54 PM