Sri Lanka crisis live updates | Ahead of new Cabinet’s swearing in today, troops raid Lanka’s main protest site, assault protesters and media

President Wickremesinghe to swear in new Cabinet today; Dinesh Gunawardena likely to be named PM

Sri Lanka’s new President Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to swear in his Cabinet on Friday comprising members of the previous government, including Dinesh Gunewardena who will likely be the next Prime Minister.

Ahead of the swearing in of the new Cabinet, a huge military contingent, along with police, raided Galle Face in Colombo early on Friday, where anti-government protesters have peacefully agitated for over three months in the wake of the island nation’s grave economic crisis. Several protesters were assaulted by soldiers, according to eyewitnesses.

Also read : ‘Occupy Galle Face’: A tent city of resistance beside Colombo’s seat of power

The military attack on the main agitation site comes less than 24 hours after Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as President, amid political tumult in the island after dramatic citizens’ protests on July 9 led to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fleeing Sri Lanka.

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Here are the latest updates from the ongoing political and economic crisis in Sri Lanka:

Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was sworn in as President of Sri Lanka on Thursday, is expected to appoint long-time Rajapaksa loyalist and senior politician Dinesh Gunawardena as Prime Minister, a source close to the President’s office told The Hindu.