Sri Lanka's state of emergency revoked as president loses majority
Countrywide protests flare up over shortages in fuel, gas and other essentials A state of emergency in Sri Lanka has been revoked after mass protests calling for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to be removed as the country’s economic crisis worsens. On Tuesday, Mr Rajapaksa issued a decree revoking the state of emergency , which gave him sweeping powers, days after it was declared. Protests were sparked by shortages in fuel and gas, electricity and other essentials but, after spreading across the country, led to calls for the president to step down as members of his own party called for an interim government to take over. The president’s ruling party is now a minority in parliament after 42 legislators from his coalition declared they were no longer affiliated with it. “If we don’t act now, there will be a river of blood in the country,” said Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, one of the latest members to defect from Mr Rajapaksa’s party. “We have to forget party politics and ensure an interi...