News

Sri Lanka imposes curfew after day of deadly unrest

Published

2 years ago

10/05/2022

MNN

Five people were killed and nearly 200 wounded as prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resignation which did little to calm public anger.

Sri Lanka has deployed thousands of troops and police to enforce a curfew after five people were killed in the worst violence in weeks of protests over an unprecedented economic crisis.

Prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned and had to be rescued in a pre-dawn operation by the military Tuesday after thousands of anti-government protesters stormed his official residence in Colombo overnight, with police firing tear gas and warning shots to keep back the crowd.

“After a pre-dawn operation, the former PM and his family were evacuated to safety by the army,” a top security official said. “At least 10 petrol bombs were thrown into the compound.”

The Rajapaksa clan’s hold on power has been shaken by months of blackouts and shortages in Sri Lanka, the worst economic crisis since it became independent in 1948.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa remains in office, however, with widespread powers and command over the security forces.

Anti-government protests

After weeks of overwhelmingly peaceful anti-government demonstrations, violence broke out Monday when Mahinda Rajapaksa’s supporters — bussed into the capital from the countryside — attacked protestors with sticks and clubs.

“We were hit, the media were hit, women and children were hit,” one witness told AFP, asking not to be named.

Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds and declared an immediate curfew in Colombo, a measure later widened to include the entire South Asian nation of 22 million people.

Shot dead

Despite the curfew, anti-government protesters defied police to retaliate against government supporters for the attacks late into Monday night.

Ruling party lawmaker Amarakeerthi Athukorala shot two people outside Colombo.

Police said Athukorala killed a 27-year-old man after being surrounded by a mob of anti-government protestors, then took his own life with his revolver.

Athukorala’s bodyguard was also found dead at the scene, police said.
Another ruling party politician who was not named opened fire on protesters, killing two and wounding five in the deep south of the island, police added.

Angry crowds set alight the homes of more than a dozen pro-Rajapaksa politicians, along with some vehicles, while buses and trucks used by the government loyalists in and around Colombo were also targeted.

Several Rajapaksa homes were torched in different parts of the country, while a family museum in their ancestral village was trashed.

Doctors at the main Colombo National Hospital intervened to rescue wounded government supporters, with soldiers breaking open locked gates to ferry in the wounded.

“They may be murderers, but for us they are patients who must be treated first,” a doctor shouted at a mob blocking the entrance to the emergency unit.

Source: TRT World

News

President affirms upholding a good environment for journalism

Published

9 mins ago

03/05/2024

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has reiterated his commitment to uphold a sustainable environment for all forms of journalism, adapting alongside modern technological advancements.

Commemorating the World Press Freedom Day, President Dr. Muizzu conveyed felicitations to all media organisations, recognising the pivotal role media plays for the development and progress of the nation. The president observed the relentless endeavours of journalists in sourcing and sharing reliable information, heightening public consciousness, acting as a bridge between the government and the public, addressing public inquiries to the government while amplifying the voices of citizens.

Furthermore, President Dr. Muizzu revealed his top priority on engaging in meetings and dialogues with journalists. The president assured that the opinions of journalists will be taken in to consideration, aiming to align the expectations of media outlets meets with that of reality.

Observing that financial constraints as a primary challenge faced by the media, the government has taken the initiative to allocate a portion of the budget to support media organisations. President Dr. Muizzu expressed confidence that this initiative will be implemented soon, pending approval from Parliament. Moreover, the presiden unveiled plans to establish a Media Village tailored to accommodate media administrative bodies, enhance educational and training prospects across various domains, and bolster connections with international organisations.

Additionally, President Dr. Muizzu stressed the significance of the provision of credible information, cautioning that it will negatively impact the society otherwise.

Source(s): PsmNews

News

Coral bleaching alert level raised from ‘watch’ to ‘warning’

Published

11 hours ago

03/05/2024

The coral bleaching alert level in the Maldives has been raised from ‘watch’ to ‘warning’, with the Maldives Marine Research Institute warning it may soon rise further to the highest alert level in the north and southern Maldives.

Coral bleaching is when corals turn white due to various stressors. However, the leading cause of coral bleaching is climate change.

The world is currently experiencing the fourth global coral bleaching event, and the second one within the span of the year.

The MMRI said in a statement that it is now receiving reports of widespread coral bleaching across the Maldives.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which runs a Coral Reef Program, the latest satellite images show the bleaching alert level in the Maldives is now at ‘warning’ level – the third highest warning level – up from ‘watch’ just a month ago.

The MMRI warned that the alert level is expected to rise to ‘alert level 1’ within one week.

“It is also possible that areas in the north and south of Maldives will reach ‘alert level 2’,” warned the institute.

Maldives experienced its first widespread coral bleaching incident in 1998.

According to MMRI, such incidents have increased in frequency.

The institute also warned that human activities may impede coral recovery.

“While Maldives’ corals recover faster after bleaching incidents compared to other countries, the impact of human activities at such a time could slow down recovery and even obstruct it,” warned the institute.

Human activities that may impede coral recovery include dredging, land reclamation and beach nourishment.

“Such activities have a negative impact on coral reef ecosystems, even if it’s is just temporary,” said the MMRI.

“We urge all parties to suspend activities that may raise coral stress level, amid forecasts of coral bleaching incidents due to the warming ocean temperature.”

MMRI also urged all parties to report coral bleach incidents to the institute.

Source(s): sun.mv

News

Land up for sale from two phases of Thilafushi

Published

11 hours ago

03/05/2024

Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has announced the sale of land from Phase I and Phase II of the industrial island of Thilafushi, exclusively for Maldivian citizens.

Total 108 plots are available for industrial purposes from Thilafushi Zone A, Area B.

Type 1: 2,500-4,999 square feet, 64 plots
Type 2: 5,000-9,999 square feet, 42 plots
Type 3: 10,000-14,999 square feet, 2 plots

The sale of land will be carried out in two phases; the submission of Expression of Interest (EOI) and, in cases where a plot receives more than one EOI, it will go to bidding.

The minimum bid price is MVR 1,700 per square feet.

Interested parties can submit their bids via HDC’s portal or via email to sales@hdc.mv.

Meanwhile, the opportunity has also been opened for parties who have leased land from Phase I of Thilafushi to purchase the plot. The opportunity is open for parties who have leased land the size of 5,000 square feet or more.

Thilafushi is being developed as the main industrial and business hub in the greater Male’ region.

Source(s): sun.mv