Russia’s restriction of Ukrainian grain exports may have contributed to the unrest in Sri Lanka.
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So says United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
Speaking to reporters in Bangkok on July 10, he expressed concern that the grain shortage could lead to other crises around the world.
What we are seeing around the world is a growing uncertainty about access to products, which has been greatly exacerbated by Russian aggression against Ukraine,” the Secretary of State said.
Blinken again urged Russia to allow some 20 million tons of grain to leave Ukraine.
On July 9, thousands of protesters took place in the capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo. Their participants demand that the President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, leave his post due to the difficult economic situation in the country. They laid siege to the leader’s residence and then broke into the building. The President left the building in advance, he was transported to a safe place.
Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters. Five civilians and two police officers were injured during the protests in Colombo, according to Ada Derana, with Reuters reporting at least 21 injured. The local publication Colombo Page reports that people from all over the island came to the protests, and when many trains were canceled, they came to the capital on foot.
Protests in Sri Lanka have been going on since March, mostly young people take part in them. But among those demanding the president’s resignation are Buddhist monastic organizations (they hold a continuous office saying that Rajapaksa should step down as president), Catholic priests and human rights organizations. Several members of the Sri Lankan parliament on Saturday also sent an appeal to the incumbent president demanding to leave his post, Ada Derana reported.
During the protests, eight people have already died, more than 200 were injured. They were caused by a serious economic crisis and corruption: there is almost no fuel in the country, because of which the sowing season is disrupted, there is a shortage of imported food and medicines. In July, the President of Sri Lanka asked Vladimir Putin to help the country with loans to buy fuel.
In early July, amid protests, the head of government, the elder brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, resigned. However, the protesters did not stop the action and demanded the president’s resignation. On July 8, agencies reported that a curfew had been imposed in Colombo.
Source: Racurs
