Sri Lankan Media off air! Intensified protests leave state owned media veiled

Colombo, Jul 13: National broadcaster of Sri Lanka SLRC, known as Jathika Rupavahini on Wednesday (Jul 13) suspended live telecast as protestors surrounded its premises. The state-owned Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) suspended its live telecasts.

 

 

 

 

The recent update on restricted broadcast comes as reports have emerged that embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the interim President of Sri Lanka. A state of emergency was declared as protesters came prepared to face tear gas shelling by security forces deployed outside Wickremesinghe's residence. Air patrolling also began around the PM's residence.

 

 

 

 

 

Wickremesinghe also declared an emergency and imposed a curfew in the western province of the country as protests intensified following Gotabaya Rajapaksa's escape to the Maldives. Sri Lankan opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said that the PM cannot exercise the powers of the President, and cannot declare a curfew or a state of emergency.

 

Opposition leader Premdasa tweeted, "PM becomes acting President only if the President appoints him as such, or if the office of President is vacant, or if the CJ in consultation with the Speaker forms the view that the President is unable to act." He said in another tweet, "In the absence of any of these, the PM cannot exercise the powers of President, and cannot declare curfew or a state of emergency."