for heartfelt a comes from those left behind trying to move on from the pain of the past. women who refused to die on out to 0. bold journalism, the police violently dispersing protest. this, these are some of good tens of thousands of people, troy, to flee global inspired program making. welcome to generation change unrivalled broadcasting. white people did not want black children in their schools. we have to fight forecasted and al jazeera english proud recipient of the new york festivals broadcaster of the year award for the sick da running ah shall. anchors. prime minister declared a state of emergency off to prison. go to buy roger packs of fleas to the mold eaves on a military jet angry protest in the country after roger pike's fleas,

the country ahead of his promised resignation. ah, i melinda, by the saudis, their life and doha also coming up. joe biden is expected to arrive in israel in the coming hours on his fuss trip to the middle east. as the u. s. president. a 65 year old, hong kong activists known as grandma won't plead guilty to charges of unlawful assembly and a sneak peak into the universe. the wells most powerful telescope delivered some spectacular images. ah, sure lanka has declared a state of emergency just hours off to present and go to buy roger packs of fled to the mold eaves. the prime mister ronald, i'm

a single has declared himself acting president. police have fine t gas. a protest is calling for his resignation. thousands of people have converged on his offices in colombo. let's go straight to set, bathrooms, lifers in colombo stuff. it's been a very eventful 24 to 48 hours in inter lanka. bring us up to date with the very latest. yeah. well, a lot of anger here on the street of colombo, as you can see here, behind me, a lot of professors went to the prime minister's office just over an hour ago. they are police, a fire tear gas and water canada to them. and then they started marching around the city and thousands of them. and now they have arrived here at the state, television and radio offices. basically what we're seeing right now is that the prime minister has a clear the state of emergency and the western provinces, and also impose emergency matches for the whole country. basically also saying that

people who are writing could be arrested. but a lot of people are demanding his resignation as well. the main demand right now because we haven't heard from president a box that since he flat land kind of early hours off today. together with his wife and 2 bodyguards, he's now in the mildly, but they also want the prime minister on the away from the same guy as well. that's the main demand, that's what they're shouting here. i can show you around. you can see also now in the last couple of hours a different mood than in the last few days. you see that a lot of military and police, it's now on the streets, they're blocking the areas of the lease. they also blocking here the same kind of feature. you can see the military is basically protecting this building, and we've seen that around the city center that the military is really back on the street right now. possibly also because of this state of emergency which people are

now questioning the legality. the spokesman of the prime minister has just explained to john this, that the legal explanation for the fact that the prime minister was calling himself an acting president without the official resignation of the president will follow later. that's what he said. he said, we want the situation to be under control 1st. okay, so let's just pick up on that point again step. just to clarify, as we understand from a legal point of view, he, the prime minister con, call himself acting president, canny and tailed. the prime minister has officially declared himself a sent out an official letter of resignation. we haven't seen that letter of resignation that yet no, we haven't seen an official letter of resignation and also the president before fleeing the country has not appointed an acting president to speak or follows. tests confirm dis, to journalist. so there is a legal limbo,

power vacuum at the moment, so to say. so the prime minister is now stepping in. there's a lot of speculation that he wants to stay in his position and even wants to become the next president. and that's something that a lot of people here on the street really don't want to see. that's one of them. main demands. they say the prime minister is also supporting the land, the he is involved and everything that's happened to the country is bankrupt to you has been part of this. they want him to be out of office as well. he's report and he's still in sri lanka at the moment, and he's apparently also pulling the strings right now. let's take a step back to how exactly the president goes to buy a bunch of pucks. i managed to leave the country. do we have more specific details about how he managed to flee and do we know where his final destination is? ah,

let me see for the company here. it is a family . that's why it is so angry here at the state television offices and the radio offices. i'm sorry. but to your question, what happened is that the president apparently already went to an air base close to the airport. i didn't manage to get out. and this morning, eustace executive pow wow. yeah. i mean, so basically he got the promise that he could leave. there was a deal made a that she could actually leave the country. there was a lot of discussion about it last night. i did say that they're happy in the way that he's gone out of the picture right now. the

people of course, are also calling for him to be brought to justice because they say that only mismanagement of the country. but there's also been murder of journalists that there's a lot of time in prison. they also ask for political prisoners to be released, but mismanagement, has brought the country to bankruptcy interest 3 years time. one of the things that the president did was, for example, stopping the import of chemical fertilizer, saying farmers should be organic from one day to the other. and that basically effects it, a lot of farmers and also the exports of t, for example, in the country. that was one of the reasons that the country went bankrupt. also huge dep. yeah. especially from china, that was a lot of boring of money into so on successful project. so basically the people here say we are now suffering from the fact that the country is spectrum that we

have a little to eat and the president is now safe and well in the mall. i'm probably going to dubai. that's what people are saying is going to do by them all div. that's where he wants to be an exile. okay, for now we'll leave it there to fasten outside the official tv studios in columbia, colombo, the situation obviously evolving very fast. that let's go and speak to bonnie fonseca, who is a political and this anna human rights lawyer. she joins us now from colombo, thank you for joining the program. i will stop by clarifying something in the last half an hour. so the prime minister in the country run, no victim a singer has declared himself acting president legally. is he allowed to do that? no, not at all. only the president can get some appoint. someone is acting president, the prime minister does not have the poverty give himself the position of acting precedent. so why do you think he's made this move and he's also called for

a state of emergency. what's that all about? well, what is going on here at the moment is how the prime minister is making these decisions . the priming is target one particular prize. he does not have the power to be lacking of acting precedent, nor does he have the power to declare the estate of a legend see. so there are questions being raised then i think he's off. he said, he said he will be appointed acting, rescued, and very soon so these are extremely on certain developments in sri lanka, but it also raises huge questions in terms of the unity because we're crying minister in me is not with her. as you can see, the live pictures in columbia, a lot of anger on the streets, or in the last sort of 4 hours or so. is that why we're, we're seeing protest is out on the streets because essentially what they wanted was

the, a roger pock sends out and they managed to achieve that. well, you're right. turning to protest at standard a few months ago. we're wearing tier, we benjamin, go to my vehicle, one ranch, faxes and more recently. go home, run you. july 9th. so the biggest for case a peaceful protests in colombo and on the pots of sri lanka, we should relate to the preceding end, the prime minister, seeing the real resign. now today in the morning, the recall was that the president has the partner trina and john that he seemed the more to do and possibly going to another destination of the progress that we're glad you eastwood has. he has had a huge impact in sri lanka, in terms of getting a very powerful precedent in family, disturb now. but what's happening now is also increasing the worry because we are seeing how was being exercised that are not legally white. but it also did worried

that there would be further repairs that would lead to wine and soon very waller to dish and on the ground it is. and, and, and that's what i want to highlights. i mean, if we're looking at the pictures right now in columbia, you can see the sheer number of people who are protesting outside the state. tv offices, clearly very angry. ah, we can see some smoke. i understand that the, that the has been t a guess used which, which obviously is, is going to fuel more protests. oh, how concerned are you that we could see an escalation in these purchase? because up till now it has been very peaceful. this is the big warning for many years. i see a full protest have really had any impact, a positive impact by the even though the printer's become widened all the protests are targeted with tear gas and not the own. so why lindsey would get

out of control. so dcp extremely, extremely worry, but i hope that the months long piece will need to produce continue, and that the piece will for case demand for you through transition instead ability, anything come her know the government and the political leaders to really take doors can get urgent action, giovanni cannot ask a what route to you see out of this? because more or less at the moment what, what we have is a political vacuum. so how do you go from that to a country with the stability and economic prospects? oh jenny, reclining to president recent and maybe there can resign on the constitutional rights for the speaker to step being as a temporary, as an acting crazy done and body mundane can elect mineral piling and he looming

a good time. now these need to move very quickly because the situation needs video realty, and that entering government of precedent at any turning government scabby license the country because they cannot make crises, and the political crises require urgent attention. but if anything, we have also seen that they, the prison members of parliament and the political leaders don't enjoy the mending of the people. so we also will have to look into elections as soon as the environment is conducive. but legend needs to ensure political stability and the law in order to situation eas, addressed and under control. as you say, i mean the current prime minister will acting president as he is calling himself ronelle victim. a singer, a is clearly not popular with the people. what, what are the, or are there any candidates that come to mind that could that,

that could be the voice of the people? well, you're right. the primary needs says it's freedom, young mccula and need. he's lindstrom is he has been christian for now nearly to a magazine john, so oily on to the prime minister po is there are those who are even writing still 3 long grain these uncertain times. but for any of these needs to be considered, there has to be a clear indicated that the president has resigned and the prime minister has to be signed. without doubt, we are in a political rec, you amend these uncertainty. we'll continue. so there i, individuals will, can coming, but there is no one individual. this is going to require team work because a crisis is such that one individual is not going to be able to solve all the problems of any fonseca, political analysts and human rights lawyers. speaking to us that from colombo, really appreciate you talking to us. ok. let's return

to all correspondence. step lawson who is in colombo in the middle of those protests that for see just to talk through what's around, what's going on well, anger protesters are here at the radio and t v. stations a state television and radio. they see this as the mouth piece of the regime of the president and the family. so that's why they came here. it's really heavily guarded by the military right now. but there is a lot of people on the street or different groups and they are going around the city center. they went to the prime minister's office before they are police sprayed to you guys and water cannons to them. they have been going around. there was an elite area where the elite of 1st re lanka is living, was heavily guarded as well. so crowns are spread around the city right now. and

they have one strong demand. not only that the president officially resigned because we haven't seen any official resignation, lack of but also that the prime minister resigns, immediately they actually gave a deadline which is expiring in 20 minutes. and then they sat there will be a large demonstration. they were calling on people to gather at 1 o'clock here in colombo, but these protestors couldn't weigh, they didn't want to wait for that line to expire and they started to go on the street. i was before that and they have been going around. since you see a very different mood done in the last couple of days, what's all very peaceful people really quietly going into the presidential residency. thousands of people have gone in there since the residency was storms on saturday by hundreds of thousands of protesters at that time, but not a mood. it's getting a bit more agitated. so to say, oh, they're opening the gate right now. i don't know if they are allowed to go. it

doesn't, doesn't look like it. the gate is supposed to go, but it gets more agitated because they're worried that the prime minister is not willing to resign and that he wants to take over. 1 for president gotten by next week on wednesday, the 20th parliament will have the secret vote. there's lots of candidates already been announced. but there's a lot of worried that the prime minister, a singer, will have the majority of members in parliament and who possibly be the next president. and this is something people he really try to avoid. they say we stay on the street until he resides. i'm speaking to hi. sorry. he has only one student body been only himself for him. how could help both he will he be the? but if you're not the sheila, i just use me to step out of my boss. he saw he said, be here. oh dick responsible for soon to be on these guys because all these

these how we started that came through those are night on the he's government also . he, he's bill on who leo center back. the scheme for the crisis is also his fault. you say yes, of course, because a lot of the butter boss very do you resign or long before? even before 3 months ago he, he stepped up for that i had to fax us and he took the finally that seat for himself. and now he's refusing to resign it, and if he doesn't please, i will be at school. you can see it's going to be doing blake violence. i thought people at bottom new terms of wine and history. it says he's showing some, oh, i'm not a good but that these thought each group is he's a,

he's group is what shawn wish you luck the but that 1989. he's responsible to killing my father's been so now he started talking to my friends also. i'll be there right now, but a question for he's right now, and he's, this will be order to, i don't know everyone tell me. but the colombo now is a state of emergency, declare a value, worry that it is going to be violent. we don't want like violence, but that is what keel g, aren't wireless at the beast, right? what's he's done in the past. he can mobilize them legally and he can just outdoor stuff and he can swap them, the planner and no offense to me. come on, that's the plan. he's a master mine and please i am asking even as a community born speaker medina. he's gonna be just 3. let me read on top right now . he's not be good because to be let me see lanka, he's more treated,

he called that rod to boxer. how are you personally affected by the client? all i'm gonna be doing both. there's like, no, all you know did is even the columbia and he was at ease flores and the public light bill was we shot down and you can see it. this is not the columbia like eat one die. you have to be on the street. there's hardly any car me eats at the, at this time, usually the how high outbreaks in the spots of but out he's completely competed. i don't box us and be promoting that bobby's food would be some people say when before. yes, that's completely ruined us. that is to be gathered here on the doors once and this guy evaluated government and you stop this, the economy goes, alma getta, and who bts patching now will come you but got to buy a black the country early this morning. you go and know that he the same, don't you feel the same these you see some little already use on mute. so something

oh you was that deeply. oh use. i'm his dad. he's on like one mid day, so on. so he's, he's that he also does she know what day week i know he's the president, but he also was he don't of the like are you going to be guilty like breed but for you over he's charity. the more you come all use or get back, i'm angry about that. not be angry about it, but okay, let it go back. but you like about what those door thought it, what thought or thought it of you and brought out the form of find out for form of . i am a finance minister who was woo exploring the other of a foreign currencies. who if bus, who is born it made by the thing present? he hadn't yet hi, we had not any paula. then he say, we both not boiled any 40 general bible, my boy. you know that he's news or not. he's now in the united states report. but he's not wanting any she wants owens or is bought under that it revealed the

younger i'm unity. why is that number one, but these don't blurry? did you want to be literally 2 do security fact there's will be renting us. not that that's. this is not family, be more. this is a piece with the i like i like these beyond the von b r and b. b central. but us please. fair and before yes, each that isn't. that didn't happen. so be our brain. other hard. another morse, buick gp level b and be born some feasible elections. and we are hoping that are going to be supporting us that people see up v as in heavy economy crises. if there's also talk about the people's council, right, are you optimistic that a say into the new future? obviously law have been the must be i'm believe i am very equal to do, but that goes yeah, because all it easier. and so we're just watching ready for long. yes. there being

the change that people want. so be a very appeal was about that. thank you because you believe time that you guys come to the verb us. you. how many got thoughts? ideas, 1776. we've ancient in france, i thing, 1818. not something in beaker back. not got a v street or something. so every time people begin to problem 100, he has to be with them. and you just happen to you don't believe, but barton and feel, grimacing at the same thought of you hadn't come, we'll beat them. and we had to walk through the become a senior. who's the most? do you go to personally, sheila, who's the biggest the learned for she like a b, but he says like no. only the only thing he can help ease. are you worried that he will become the next president next week?

he's he's diabetic. he's only enjoying, he's paula. you know, he's been in, he's been some him. he explains. i'm deep. he's one of the biggest last time i know how to log out. you've been heed from the beginning. so he's going to plays game each. how he talked to us, but if you did i b b, i was there. thank you so much for your comments. so very strong words here from a gentleman, i didn't even ask his name. he is here at the tv station to say television in a lot of people here. they're all loud here to get in there. go home gotta they had this banners on his, on their hats. why are you here? can i ask you a question? there's a lot of people here, they're gathering and they're really demanding this one thing that the prime minister is resigning as well as you heard the gentleman say, and that's their main concern that he's now rubbing power. so to say,

because he has declared a state of emergency in a very legally un, on certain situation back to you and. okay, steph, i thank you for that. as it's worth recapping, if you're joining us now, what is currently going on in shore lanka, in the last hour or so shall anchor, has declared a state of emergency. this was just hours off to the president, go to buy a roger pox. a fled to the mold deeds that news coming into people this morning and death than in the last half an hour. so we heard from the prime minister ronelle victim, a singer who declared himself acting president a lot of the anger that you were seeing out there on the streets is because of that move made by renault victim a single because they are very, there are a lot of questions about the legality of that move, calling himself acting president. i when i go to buy a roger, pox of the president hasn't currently announced his official resignation. there has

been no letter from the president go to buy a raja coxa who has fled to mal deeds that he has officially resign. sir. protest is very angry for those 2 main reasons about this move by prime minister. run it from the sing that to declare himself acting president. and deb is still waiting for the official resignation from president go to bio roger pack. so we heard that from that one purchase to speaking to step voss and the frustration the anger about . so what's been going on in the country for, for years now, and a lot of the protest was seeing now is, is this, there's a concern, they might be getting slightly more violence. a t gas has been used police of 5 take out the protestors who are, who have been calling for the resignation of president, go to by roger pox outside the president's a t v and radio studios. that's where we see many of these crowds steph

fasten. we can return now to you. why don't we, why, why don't we recap a little bit about the movements off of the president and the current acting president where, where is president got to by roger pox a right now do we know where he's going? and also do we know where ronald become a singer is now? well, we do know where i got the biology box i is because there are reports that he landed in the mall deeps. so that's where he is. there are reports that he is only aunt in france for maybe a couple of days. he wants to go to dubai, but we don't know where the prime minister is at the moment. there were a lot of protests was at his office. they were expecting him to show up there a few hours ago. nobody has seen him so far, but it seems that his office is still up and running. they have declared to this

state of emergency. the spokesman has also made some promise about the legality that we'll explained later. he said to a journalist, so he is still in the country. we don't know exactly where he is looking at the angry crowds going around the city center at the moment. he might be hiding somewhere, but it's for sure that the situation has changed is a lot more police an army this week. and it's very clear to see that when you saw that the presidential residents, for example, was hardly any situation for us to stay on the last couple of days, but around the prime minister's office and his house, there are a lot of security for us. so it looks like he is in control right now, but the official reason for that has not been given. okay. i will leave it that now . thank you for that. we can go to a correspondent, michelle fernandez, who's also in colombo and me now i believe you are actually outside prime minister run of the commissioner's office or who of course has declared himself acting

president what's going on where you are. so basically, if you just look at the road behind me, this is the road that leads to the prime minister's office. and if you can just show you the massive crowd that's here at the end of the road, you can see the sheer numbers of protest those. if you look just beyond, if you strain your eyes, you can see a blue over. he goes in the far distance, it moving slightly away. that's one of the water cannons. now we have seen a huge number of millet personnel and specifically special task force personnel. that's the commander unit of the police. all of them just walking through a basically in foot patrols ah, 2015 tom terms of groups with shields with tear gas. so guns with the auto automatic weapons, a lot of sort of right. yeah. and things like that, just earlier on, while on my way here, i saw 3 bus loads of military of army personnel in 3 buses of being bused to

a location, obviously to sort of a buffer up security. so a very, very angry mood, a reacting to that declaration of a curfew in the western province, an emergency island wide and deck so and give us a bit of background on what's been going on. the last 24 to 48 hours because the mood has, has changed a little bit. it feels the tension is increased very much. so in the last 24 hours or so, talk us through the various events. basically it things reached a peak on the 9th of july, obviously when that huge flood of people converged on colombo, the over, and the president's house, as well as the prime minister, as official residences. and basically, they said they were here to state to this. so the exit of president go toby roger boxer or he did after.