India denies sending troops to Sri Lanka

By Saadet Firdevs Apari

ANKARA (AA) – India on Sunday denied media reports about sending troops to Sri Lanka gripped by protests and economic crisis.

In a statement, the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka categorically dismissed "speculative media reports" about New Delhi sending its troops to Colombo.

"These reports and such views are also not in keeping with the position of the government of India," it added.

Earlier, India's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that New Delhi stands with the people of Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, BBC reported that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is on a navy ship off Sri Lanka.

The parliament speaker said on Saturday that the president would resign on July 13, amid protests in the wake of a worsening economic crisis.

The development came after thousands of protesters stormed the presidential palace in Colombo on Saturday, and also set the prime minister’s home on fire.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has also agreed to resign after the formation of an all-party government.

Crippled by a shortage of foreign exchange after the collapse of the tourism-dependent economy, the island nation of 22 million has defaulted on all of its foreign debt.

It has been unable to pay for fuel and other essentials, resulting in anti-government protests. A lack of fuel to run power stations has in turn led to daily power cuts. While schools have been shut, state employees have been asked to work from home.

The government is negotiating with the IMF for a bailout package.