Sri Lanka’s embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency— for the second time in less than five weeks—on Friday as anti-government protests and strikes by trade and worker unions intensify amid the worsening economic crisis and the refusal of the Rajapaksa brothers to take responsibility for the state of affairs and quit.

Thousands of protestors surrounded the parliament building on Friday in Colombo as they demand the resignation of the Rajapaksa duo—a call the government has long been ignoring. Later in the evening, the president also called an emergency meeting of the cabinet.

The move, the government said in its notification, is taken in the interest of the country. Police also cracked down on several protest sites and ransacked their tents. Police on Friday fired tear gas at demonstrators outside parliament as they tried to barge into the building.  

Debt-ridden Sri Lanka last month announced premature default on its external loan, totaling over $51 billion, as its usable foreign exchange reserves came down to just $50 million this, making it extremely hard for the government to pay for essential imports

Criticizing the government for the emergency declaration, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said the state of emergency "runs counter to seeking any solution to the crisis".

Going ahead, the government will need to get parliamentary approval for the state of emergency within the next 30 days. However, the growing dissent within the ruling coalition could make it tough.

Opposition parties have ignored the government’s call for the formation of an interim government under President Rajapaksa. They demand the resignation of the president—also a key demand of protestors—for easing any political deadlock.

With its economy in disarray and political elites squabbling for retaining their power, Sri Lanka seems heading toward a Lebanon-type crisis, a mix of prolonged political and economic uncertainty. Tea and tourism, two of its top foreign exchange earners, are also affected by the crisis, which would exacerbate its economic hardship.

Sri Lanka is currently in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the recent move to declare an emergency may hamper its effort to funding from the lender.

(SAM)