![]() ![]() We welcome President Biden’s September 22 COVID-19 Summit, and acknowledge that our work continues. The Quad Vaccine Experts Group remains the heart of our cooperation, meeting regularly to brief on the latest pandemic trends and coordinate our collective COVID-19 response across the Indo-Pacific, including by piloting the Quad Partnership COVID-19 Dashboard. Since March, the Quad has taken bold actions to expand safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing capacity, donated vaccines from our own supply, and worked together to assist the Indo-Pacific in responding to the pandemic. And so in March, Quad leaders launched the Quad Vaccine Partnership, to help enhance equitable access to safe and effective vaccines in the Indo-Pacific and the world. Quad leaders recognize that the most immediate threat to lives and livelihoods in our four countries and the world is the COVID-19 pandemic. The leaders have put forth ambitious initiatives that deepen our ties and advance practical cooperation on 21 st-century challenges: ending the COVID-19 pandemic, including by increasing production and access to safe and effective vaccines promoting high-standards infrastructure combatting the climate crisis partnering on emerging technologies, space, and cybersecurity and cultivating next-generation talent in all of our countries. On September 24, President Biden hosted Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan at the White House for the first-ever in-person Leaders’ Summit of the Quad. Get Involved Show submenu for “Get Involved””.The White House Show submenu for “The White House””.Office of the United States Trade Representative.Office of Science and Technology Policy.Executive Offices Show submenu for “Executive Offices””.Administration Show submenu for “Administration””.“Inspector General of Police CD Wickramaratne and the security forces had been instructed to arrest those rioting and to seize vehicles that are transporting mobs including persons behaving in a violent manner into custody,” news portal ColomboPage reported. Security forces have been ordered to take action if demonstrations turn violent. Power blackouts are widespread, and schools have closed.Įarlier, police opened fire with tear canisters, near the prime minister’s offices as angry protestors began gathering outside after learning that Rajapakse had fled the country. The country has also run out of fuel and hyperinflation has set in with the cost of living expected to rise by 60 percent this month. Sri Lanka’s economy has crumbled under 17 years of rule by the Rajapaksa family and a national debt of $51 billion. “The future president should be chosen with a common agreement from all political parties and based on the national needs,” Ven. The Buddhist clergy had also prepared a list of five civil activists as potential candidates for the next president to be put forward if politicians failed to reach a consensus on finding a replacement for Rajapaksa. His residence was set ablaze amid weekend demonstrations when protestors blocked firemen from dousing the flames. Premadasa has been touted as a potential president, alongside Dullas Alahapperuma, who is from Rajapaksa’s ruling Sri Lanka People’s Front and Wickremesinghe.īut opposition to Wickremesinghe has been growing. ![]() ![]() ![]() Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said in a tweet: “PM becomes acting President only if the President appoints him as such, or if the office of President is vacant, or if the CJ in consultation with the Speaker forms the view that the President is unable to act.” The action of Wickremesinghe has triggered criticism from politicians vying to fill the vacuum left by the absconded president. Politicians were expected to vote on a new leader through the APG on July 20. The Speaker of the Parliament, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, had been expected to assume the role of acting president for 30 days once Rajapaksa formally resigned. ![]()
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