Pope Francis has issued a call to advocate for peace on Sunday 10 in Sri Lanka, which is going through a period of social and political unrest due to the worst economic crisis in the country’s history.
“I agree with the pain of the people of Sri Lanka, who continue to suffer from the effects of political and economic instability,” the Catholic Church leader said in a speech at Angelus on Sunday.
On Saturday, the 9th, thousands of protesters protested the crisis in the capital, Colombo, and many stormed the presidential palace, forcing the president to flee. gotabaya Rajapaksapromised to deliver the position next Wednesday (13).
Visiting Sri Lanka in January 2015, the Pope said, “Together with the bishops of the country, I renew my call for peace and ask the authorities not to ignore the cry of the poor and the needs of the people.”
Videos posted on social media show hundreds of people roaming the building’s rooms and even jumping into the complex’s swimming pool.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has been in office for two months, set his private home on fire by protesters and said he was ready to step down to pave the way for the formation of a government of national unity.
With a population of around 22 million, Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from Britain in 1948.
The country has already defaulted on $51 billion in foreign debt and is now seeking a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
In May, the suppression of protests against the establishment had already left nine dead in Sri Lanka and forced then-prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was the brother of the then president, to resign.
source: Noticias
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