COLOMBO, April 2: Amidst nationwide protests against shortages of essential
commodities turning violent, the ruling Rajapaksas declared emergency in Lanka
on Friday night and clamped a 36-hour curfew from Saturday evening in order
to control the rebellion. Soldiers armed with automatic assault rifles have
been deployed throughout the country.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said in a gazette notification that the decision
was taken in the interests of public security, protection of public order and
to ensure the maintenance of essential supplies.
The immediate cause of the national crisis is shortage of foreign exchange
to import essential commodities like fuel. Without electricity and fuel all
economic activities have come to a standstill. People have no food either. An
exodus to India has begun.
Thousands of people have been protesting at the President's residence over
shortages and inflation (18.7%) the past few days. Clashes have erupted. With
a worsening economic crisis, hospitals are suspending routine surgeries and
power supply is cut most of a day. Across the country people are queueing up
for miles to buy kerosene, diesel and petrol. Troops have been deployed to control
the crowds at fuel stations. The economic collapse is forcing people to seek
refuge in neighbouring India.
Lanka has huge debt obligations in addition to dwindling foreign exchange reserves.
Last month Colombo had devalued its currency to facilitate a deal with the IMF.
The country is facing its worst crisis since independence.
The Buddhist proposals
Meanwhile, the Buddhist monks and Catholic priests called on the President
to end the crisis. The Buddhist monks met the President and urged him to find
ways to lower the cost of living, restructure debts, create a local economic
model and encourage new investments in the country. They warned that Lanka is
fast becoming a failed State. They asked the temples and churches to donate
part of their wealth, especially gold, to the Government to recover from the
crisis.
The ruling family
The entire country is ruled by just one family of Rajpaksas. Prime Minister
Mahinda Rajapaksa (76) is President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's (72) elder brother;
Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa (70) is younger brother; Irrigation Minister
Chamal Rajapaksa (79) is the eldest; Youth and Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa
is son of Mahinda; PM's Chief of Staff Yoshitha Rajapaksa is also Mahinda's
son; Minister for Agriculture Shasheendra Rajapaksa is Chamal Rajapaksa's son;
Director of Sri Lankan Airlines Shameendra Rajapaksa, also Chamal Rajapaksa's
son.
The origin of the crisis
The seeds of the crisis were sown way back in 2007 when Colombo began borrowing
money and Government bonds were sold in the capital market under Mahinda Rajapaksa's
rule. The process continues. Much of it, about $10 billion, came from China,
which is staking claim to the infrastructure they funded. The covid pandemic
added to Lanka's woes by sapping revenues from tourism, the mainstay of the
economy. And the public debt has become unsustainable. Colombo has sought aid
from IMF, China and India - all of them promising help. India has started shipments
of fuel and rice.
