The Indian High Commission in Colombo issued a statement denying rumors—without naming Rajapaksa—that “certain political persons and their family” fled to India.

Mahinda Rajapaksa’s supporters, armed with sticks and rods, attacked the peaceful protestors camping outside his official residence. This is the first time in the over a month-long protest that the clashes broke out between government supporters and protestors. Videos on social media showed Rajapaksa supporters beating and assaulting some of the protestors, and vandalizing the tents erected at the site

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

At the handover ceremony, Momen described the supply of 65 types of medicines and equipment as an expression of solidarity and friendship between the two countries as Dhaka and Colombo celebrate 50 years of their diplomatic relations

Despite growing protests and cracks within the ruling coalition, the government has been resisting the demand for the resignation of the president and the prime minister. However, they have agreed, in principle, to form a unity government

For protesters, whose agitation in front of the Presidential Secretariat has now completed almost three weeks, the resignation of the two brothers remains non-negotiable, a demand also backed by the SJB, the country’s main opposition party.

In a recent interview with Daily Mirror, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, however, refuted the reports of a rift with his younger brother, the country’s president. “This is all false….But he is the President and I respect him for that. Like everyone else we also argue, even in the cabinet we argue. But our arguments stop there. He is the President and I am the Prime Minister and we are on the same page,” he was quoted as saying in the interview.

According to a report in Daily Mirror, the leaders loyal to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa are now lobbying for the removal of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to pave the way for the interim government under a new prime minister. They are also reportedly in touch with other disgruntled government lawmakers, seeking to explore the possibility of a no-confidence motion against him

The country will need bridge financing of around $3 billion till the IMF finalizes its aid package. Talks are already underway with India and China for raising the money. Significantly, Bangladesh is expected to postpone the repayment of around the $450 million currency swap facility that it had extended to Sri Lanka

Assuring protestors that their right to peaceful protest won't be hindered, President Rajapaksa said in a tweet on Wednesday, "@SL_PoliceMedia [Sri Lankan Police] will carry out an impartial and transparent inquiry re [regarding] the incident at Rambukkana which led to the tragedy for which I'm deeply saddened."

In a bid to push the country into a completely organic state, the Rajapaksa government had last year banned the use and import of chemical fertilizer almost overnight, leading to a loss in yield and production. The move proved costly for the country which was already reeling under the forex crisis amid the loss of tourism income during the pandemic and effectively compromised the country's food security.

Across the nation there is a shortage of food. fuel, medicines and other essentials, with people standing in long long queues for hours to get fuel and other supplies. Power cuts as long as 10 hours a day are adding further misery to the public

Since 2020, after the pandemic began, Sri Lanka’s central bank has printed over two trillion rupees, in a move to keep interest rates low. This, however, resulted in a balance of payment crisis and also drove up inflation and stock prices (asset price inflation).

“What we have very categorically stated, across the board, is that we will honor our debt,” he said. “The commitment is there, the desire is there, but we don’t immediately have the funds to disburse.”

On Sunday the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) said that all hospitals in the country no longer had access to imported medical tools and vital drugs. In a letter sent to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the association said, “We are made to make very difficult choices. We have to decide who gets treatment and who will not.”