Sri Lankan police have arrested two MPs from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s party in connection with last week’s violence that left nine people dead and more than two hundred injured, police said on Wednesday (May 18th).
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Sri Lankan MPs Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPP), the president’s party, were questioned by crime squad investigators on Tuesday evening and held overnight, a police official said. “There is direct evidence against the two MPs and that is why they were arrestedadded the policeman. The MPs were among 22 politicians, including ex-prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his son Namal, whose passports were seized last week after complaints were brought against them for inciting violence.
Nine dead in violent clashes
On May 9, several thousand supporters of the Rajapaksa clan had been bussed from rural areas to Colombo to the residence of Mahinda Rajapaksa, hours before his resignation. He promised them toprotect the interests of the nation“. His galvanized supporters then attacked the camps of demonstrators who have been demanding the departure of President Rajapaksa since April 9. These attacks had degenerated into violent clashes that left nine dead, at least 225 injured and countless damages. According to police, some 500 people were arrested in connection with the clashes.
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The country of 22 million people is facing its worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948, suffering for months from shortages of essential goods, long daily power cuts and record inflation. The president on Thursday appointed Ranil Wickremesinghe, an opposition politician, as prime minister. Ranil Wickremesinghe won the crucial support of the two main opposition parties to form a “unity governmentwhich must focus on straightening out the economy in ruins. Four ministers have already been sworn in on Saturday, all from the SLPP.
According to official sources Ranil Wickremesinghe was still in talks with the coalition on the allocation of the other portfolios. Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera admitted the energy crisis was more serious than initially feared. “We will not be able to supply petrol for the next two daysKanchana Wijesekera told parliament, calling on motorists not to go to the pumps.
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He added, however, that the government had managed to raise 53 million dollars to pay a tanker in the port of Colombo which is waiting for the actual collection of this sum to deliver its cargo. “We will have to wait until Saturday or Sunday to be able to distribute gasoline, but we have a reserve for essential services such as ambulances“said Kanchana Wijesekera.