Sri Lanka: fallen president leaves behind a country in midst

The successor of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who will be elected this week, will have to provide immediate solutions to a population that lacks everything.

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Like a glimmer of hope on the horizon, fireworks briefly illuminated the Sri-Lankan sky in the hours following the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Thursday, July 14, five days after he had been forced to flee his residence by a crowd of angry demonstrators. But the euphoria was short of duration, immediately hunted by the reality of an economic crisis which has interfered in all aspects of daily life. Just a few minutes from the protesters’ camp, a strange silence fell into the streets of Colombo. In recent weeks, car traffic has almost stopped and only the croaking of crows is heard, such as the melody of a country in slow motion, hampered in its march by incessant shortages. Even signaling lights no longer systematically red, affected by daily electricity cuts.

On the side of the road stretches a long line of vehicles, parked one behind the other, for several kilometers. The mechanics are well oiled. Three files run in parallel: one for cars, one for tuk-tuks-taxis-tricycles-and one last for two-wheelers. At the end, a closed service station due to the lack of supply. “This is my fifth day to wait and I am not sure that the station will be supplied with fuel today,” explains Fahad Kawas, salesperson in a subsidiary of John Keells, the biggest Sri Lankan conglomerate.

Mass departures

This 32 -year -old father slept there four nights in a row. “I went home once to take a shower and change clothes,” explains this man who must absolutely get 6 liters of fuel to get to the airport. Then, he can finally reserve his plane ticket for Qatar, where a new life awaits him. Due to galloping inflation (54.6 % in June) , his salary of 100,000 rupees, or around 275 euros, is no longer enough to feed his family. “You can’t even buy bread anymore. I usually just lunch and, sometimes I can dinner,” deplores Fahad Kawas. According to the United Nations, 80 % of the population now jump meals.

“” Gota “left, but the next president will he be better? I do not know,” worries Mr. Kawas, who will double his salary thanks to this new job as a delivery man Qatar. “The idea of ​​leaving my children, who are only 4 and 2 years old, behind me, tears me away, I cried, but for them, I have to leave,” he laments. He failed to get a passport for his wife and their children.

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/Media reports.