Sri Lanka is currently experiencing one of its worst economic crises in decades, as the country grapples with difficulties such as a lack of basic commodities and rising prices, among other things. As citizens continue to struggle to make ends meet on a daily basis, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government has been heavily chastised for its poor handling of the issue.
The government of Sri Lanka is facing a grave dilemma as the country’s foreign currency reserves have depleted. Food and fuel are in short supply in Sri Lanka, which has run out of foreign currency to pay for imports. People have been experiencing four-hour daily power outages and have run out of supplies.
In the midst of the recent economic crisis, great Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara voiced his thoughts and solidarity with his country’s people. In a lengthy statement on social media, Sangakkara expressed his grief at witnessing the people’s despair and suffering.
In the midst of nationwide protests, he urged the Sri Lankan administration to make decisions in the best interests of the country and its people. The former captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team also remarked that time is running out and that the government must act quickly to defend Sri Lankans’ future.
On Saturday, the Sri Lankan government imposed a 36-hour curfew across the country due to protests. President Rajapaksa has also announced a state of emergency in the country, effective April 1. In the middle of the crisis, the authorities also outlawed gatherings and blacked off social media to prevent planned protests.
Sangakkara, who is one of Sri Lanka’s most successful cricketers, is currently in India with his IPL team, the Rajasthan Royals (RR). Sangakkara is presently the Director of Cricket for RR, and his club has had a strong start to the ongoing IPL 2022 season, winning both of their first two matches.
