Sri Lanka: Nationwide uprising amid political turmoil

Protests in Sri Lanka grew rapidly after the president‚ addressed the nation in March 2022, refusing to accept any responsibility for the country"s economic problems (Ministry of Mass Media, 16 March 2022). The protests have now "morphed into a nationwide uprising" amid political turmoil, as reported by the International Crisis Group on 18 April 2022. World Watch Research analyst Thomas Muller comments: "With the threat of the economic crisis developing into a humanitarian emergency and with negotiations with the IMF pending, the government announced that it would suspend payment of all international debt, thus beginning the process of the country"s first ever default. Meanwhile, the two Rajapaksa brothers still governing as president and prime minister seem to have differing opinions concerning the introduction of a constitutional amendment which would give parliament more power (Daily Mirror LK, 21 April 2022). Any serious disagreement will only add to the instability of the government and prolong the suffering of the general populace." Thomas Muller adds: "Christian leaders are becoming very concerned about the situation in the country. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Colombo, for instance, has spoken out rejecting the new Sri Lankan cabinet, thus siding with popular sentiment (UCA News, 19 April 2022)."