Editing Sri Lanka (section)

=== Contemporary history ===
{{Main|History of Sri Lanka (1948–present)}}
{{See also|Sri Lankan independence movement|Sri Lankan Civil War}}
[[File:SL Independence.jpg|thumb|The formal ceremony marking the start of self-rule, with the opening of the first parliament at [[Independence Square, Colombo|Independence Square]]]]
[[File:J. R. Jayawardene, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on June 20, 1984.jpg|thumb|197x197px|J. R. Jayewardene was the most influential political figure of Sri Lanka in the 1970s and 1980s.]]
The Soulbury constitution ushered in [[Dominion of Ceylon|dominion status]], with independence proclaimed on 4 February 1948.<ref name="countrst68">{{cite web |url=http://countrystudies.us/sri-lanka/21.htm |title=Sinhalese Parties |work=[[Library of Congress Country Studies]] |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=1 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401001002/http://countrystudies.us/sri-lanka/21.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Don Stephen Senanayake|D. S. Senanayake]] became the first [[Prime Minister of Sri Lanka|Prime Minister of Ceylon]].<ref name="DS">{{cite web |url=http://countrystudies.us/sri-lanka/68.htm |title=Sinhalese Parties |work=[[Library of Congress Country Studies]] |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=21 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821135521/http://countrystudies.us/sri-lanka/68.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Prominent [[Tamils|Tamil]] leaders including Ponnambalam and [[Arunachalam Mahadeva]] joined his cabinet.<ref name="tamllib" /><ref>{{Harvnb|Nubin|2002|pp=121–122}}</ref> The [[Royal Navy|British Royal Navy]] remained stationed at [[Trincomalee]] until 1956. A countrywide [[1953 Ceylonese Hartal|popular demonstration]] against withdrawal of the rice rations resulted in the resignation of prime minister [[Dudley Senanayake]].<ref name="islnksd">{{cite web |url=http://www.island.lk/2008/08/16/satmag1.html |title=Bandaranaike and Hartal of 1953 |author=Weerakoon, Batty |work=The Island |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=26 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126054816/http://www.island.lk/2008/08/16/satmag1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike]] was elected prime minister in 1956. His three-year rule had a profound influence through his self-proclaimed role of "defender of the besieged Sinhalese culture".<ref>{{Harvnb|Nubin|2002|p=123}}</ref> He introduced the controversial [[Sinhala Only Act]], recognising [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]] as the only official language of the government. Although partially reversed in 1958, the bill posed a grave concern for the Tamil community, which perceived in it a threat to their language and culture.<ref name="FW">{{Cite book |author=Ganguly, Šumit |editor=Brown, Michael E. |title=Fighting Words: language policy and ethnic relations in Asia |publisher=The MIT Press |year=2003 |pages=136–138 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fcoDezu1ABoC |isbn=978-0-262-52333-2 |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105901/https://books.google.com/books?id=fcoDezu1ABoC |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="AV">{{Cite book |editor1=Schmid, Bettina |editor2=Schroeder, Ingo |title=Anthropology of Violence and Conflict |publisher=Routledge |year=2001 |page=185 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rx-1MdUlzaUC |isbn=978-0-415-22905-0 |access-date=15 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="a1">{{cite news |title=Sri Lanka Profile |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12004081 |work=BBC News |date=5 November 2013 |access-date=22 June 2018 |archive-date=14 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614231749/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12004081 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi|Federal Party]] (FP) launched a movement of non-violent resistance ([[satyagraha]]) against the bill, which prompted Bandaranaike to reach an agreement ([[Bandaranaike–Chelvanayakam Pact]]) with [[S. J. V. Chelvanayakam]], leader of the FP, to resolve the looming ethnic conflict.<ref>{{cite book |author=Peebles, Patrick |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SxO0eISluqEC |title=The History of Sri Lanka |publisher=Greenwood Press |date=2006 |pages=109–111 |isbn=978-0-313-33205-0 |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105903/https://books.google.com/books?id=SxO0eISluqEC |url-status=live }}</ref> The pact proved ineffective in the face of ongoing protests by opposition and the Buddhist clergy. The bill, together with various government [[Sri Lankan state-sponsored colonisation schemes|colonisation schemes]], contributed much towards the political rancour between Sinhalese and Tamil political leaders.<ref>{{cite web |title=Staff profile: Jonathan Spencer |publisher=University of Edinburgh |url=http://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/staff/social_anthropology/spencer_jonathan |access-date=15 July 2014 |author-link=University of Edinburgh |archive-date=8 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808052143/http://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/staff/social_anthropology/spencer_jonathan |url-status=dead }}</ref> Bandaranaike was [[S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike#Assassination|assassinated]] by an extremist Buddhist monk in 1959.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/Cl01Df05.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011220212820/http://atimes.com/ind-pak/Cl01Df05.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=20 December 2001 |title=Sri Lanka: The untold story – Assassination of Bandaranaike |work=Rajasingham, K. T. |year=2002 |access-date=15 July 2014}}</ref>

{{multiple image |total_width=220
|title = Leaders in 1960
| align = left
| caption_align = center
| image1 = Her Majesty The Queen (1959).jpg
|caption1=[[Elizabeth II]]<br /><small>[[Monarchy of Ceylon (1948–1972)|Queen of Ceylon]]</small>
|image2= Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Prime Minister of Ceylon 1960 (cropped).PNG
|caption2=[[Sirimavo Bandaranaike]]<br /><small>Prime Minister</small>
|footer=1960 saw the election of Sirimavo Bandaranaike as Ceylon's Prime Minister and the first time in world history that the heads of both state and government in a country were female.
}}

[[Sirimavo Bandaranaike]], the widow of Bandaranaike, took office as prime minister in 1960, and withstood an [[1962 Ceylonese coup d'état attempt|attempted coup d'état]] in 1962. During her second term as prime minister, the government instituted socialist economic policies, strengthening ties with the [[Soviet Union]] and China, while promoting a policy of non-alignment. In 1971, Ceylon experienced a [[1971 JVP insurrection|Marxist insurrection]], which was quickly suppressed. In 1972, the country became a [[republic]] named Sri Lanka, repudiating its dominion status. Prolonged minority grievances and the use of communal emotionalism as an election campaign weapon by both Sinhalese and Tamil leaders abetted a fledgling Tamil militancy in the north during the 1970s.<ref>{{Harvnb|Nubin|2002|pp=128–129}}</ref> The [[policy of standardisation]] by the Sirimavo government to rectify disparities created in university enrolment, which was in essence an [[affirmative action]] to assist geographically disadvantaged students to obtain tertiary education,<ref name="affrmact">{{cite web |url=http://www.ices.lk/publications/esr/articles_jul97/Esr-kmdesilva.PDF |pages=248–254 |title=Affirmative Action Policies: The Sri Lankan Experience |author1=De Silva |author2=K. M. |date=July 1997 |publisher=International Centre for Ethnic Studies |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930154652/http://www.ices.lk/publications/esr/articles_jul97/Esr-kmdesilva.PDF |archive-date=30 September 2011}}</ref> resulted in reducing the proportion of Tamil students at university level and acted as the immediate catalyst for the rise of militancy.<ref>{{cite book |author=Jayasuriya, J.E. |title=Education in the Third World |publisher=Indian Institute of Education |year=1981 |place=[[Pune]] | oclc=7925123}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tamilnation.co/forum/sivaram/940508eelam_history.htm |title=The Exclusive Right to Write Eelam History |author=Taraki Sivaram |date=May 1994 |publisher=Tamil Nation |author-link=Taraki Sivaram |access-date=20 August 2011 |archive-date=19 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119055553/http://tamilnation.co/forum/sivaram/940508eelam_history.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The assassination of [[Jaffna]] [[Mayor]] [[Alfred Duraiyappah]] in 1975 by the [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]] (LTTE) marked a crisis point.<ref name="Hoffman139">{{Cite book |author=Hoffman, Bruce |title=Inside Terrorism |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |place=New York |year=2006 |page=139 |isbn=978-0-231-12699-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_ayrAgAAQBAJ |access-date=24 July 2018 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105902/https://books.google.com/books?id=_ayrAgAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="rohang">{{cite web |url=http://www.padippakam.com/document/srilankan_gov/gov002.pdf |title=International and Regional Implications of the Sri Lankan Tamil Insurgency |author=Rohan Gunaratna |date=December 1998 |author-link=Rohan Gunaratna |access-date=17 October 2015 |archive-date=1 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101122924/http://www.padippakam.com/document/srilankan_gov/gov002.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The government of [[J. R. Jayawardene]] swept to power in 1977, defeating the [[United Front (Sri Lanka)|United Front]] government.<ref name="attms">{{cite web |url=http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DA26Df04.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020213090010/http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DA26Df04.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=13 February 2002 |title=Tamil militancy – a manifestation |author=Rajasingham, K.T. |year=2002 |access-date=15 July 2014}}</ref> Jayawardene introduced a [[Constitution of Sri Lanka|new constitution]], together with a [[free-market economy]] and a powerful [[Executive president|executive presidency]] modelled after that of France. It made Sri Lanka the first [[South Asia]]n country to [[Liberalism|liberalise]] its economy.<ref name="filbrn" /> Beginning in [[Four Four Bravo|1983]], ethnic tensions were manifested in an [[Sri Lankan civil war|on-and-off insurgency]] against the government by the LTTE. An [[Four Four Bravo|LTTE attack on 13 soldiers]] resulted in the start of a civil war, and in response anti-Tamil [[Black July|race riots]] took place, allegedly backed by [[Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism|Sinhalese hard-line]] ministers, which resulted in more than 150,000 Tamil civilians fleeing the island, seeking asylum in other countries.<ref name="Remembering">{{cite news |title=Remembering Sri Lanka's Black July – BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-23402727 |website=BBC News |access-date=20 October 2015 |date=23 July 2013 |archive-date=22 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322023421/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-23402727 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="lkwbblk">{{cite web |url=http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2010/04/27/the-black-july-1983-that-created-a-collective-trauma/ |title=The Black July 1983 that Created a Collective Trauma |work=Jayatunge, Ruwan M. |publisher=LankaWeb |year=2010 |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=3 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703213952/http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2010/04/27/the-black-july-1983-that-created-a-collective-trauma/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Lapses in foreign policy resulted in India strengthening the Tigers by providing arms and training.<ref name="sndaytst">{{cite news |url=http://sundaytimes.lk/970119/plus4.html |title=LTTE: the Indian connection |newspaper=Sunday Times |year=1997 |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=15 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915053716/http://sundaytimes.lk/970119/plus4.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19971212/34650923.html |title=Uppermost in our minds was to save the Gandhis' name |newspaper=Express India |year=1997 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811204127/http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19971212/34650923.html |archive-date=11 August 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2009/07/for-firmer-and-finer-international.html |title=For firmer and finer International Relations |work=Wijesinghe, Sarath |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201181154/http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2009/07/for-firmer-and-finer-international.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1987, the [[Indo-Sri Lanka Accord]] was signed and the [[Indian Peace Keeping Force]] (IPKF) was deployed in northern Sri Lanka to stabilise the region by neutralising the LTTE.<ref name="Stokke2000a">{{Cite journal |author=Stokke, K. |author2=Ryntveit, A.K. |year=2000 |title=The Struggle for Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka |journal=Growth and Change: A Journal of Urban and Regional Policy |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=285–304 |doi=10.1111/0017-4815.00129|bibcode=2000GroCh..31..285S }}</ref> The same year, the [[Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna|JVP]] launched its [[1987–89 JVP Insurrection|second insurrection]] in Southern Sri Lanka,<ref name="secninsr">{{Cite book |author=Gunaratna, Rohan |title=Sri Lanka's Ethnic Crisis and National Security |publisher=South Asian Network on Conflict Research |place=[[Colombo]] |year=1998 |page=353 |isbn=978-955-8093-00-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YpnhAAAACAAJ |author-link=Rohan Gunaratna |access-date=24 July 2018 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105902/https://books.google.com/books?id=YpnhAAAACAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> necessitating redeployment of the IPKF in 1990.<ref name="atimes">{{cite web |url=http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DC09Df04.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020416181258/http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DC09Df04.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=16 April 2002 |title=Chapter 30: Whirlpool of violence, Sri Lanka: The Untold Story |work=Asia Times |year=2002 |access-date=15 July 2014}}</ref> In October 1990, the LTTE [[Expulsion of Muslims from the Northern province by LTTE|expelled Sri Lankan Moors]] (Muslims by religion) from northern Sri Lanka.<ref name="slnp">{{cite web |url=http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2008/11/35271_space.html |title=1990, The War Year if Ethnic Cleansing of the Muslims From North and the East of Sri Lanka |publisher=lankanewspapers.com |year=2008 |access-date=21 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305012159/http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2008/11/35271_space.html |archive-date=5 March 2016 }}</ref> In 2002, the Sri Lankan government and LTTE signed a Norwegian-mediated ceasefire agreement.<ref name="a1" />

The [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|2004 Asian tsunami]] killed over 30,000 and displaced over 500,000 people in Sri Lanka.<ref name="BBC News 2005">{{cite web | title=US presidents in tsunami aid plea | website=BBC News | date=3 January 2005 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4143459.stm#map | access-date=20 December 2021 | archive-date=20 December 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220175054/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4143459.stm#map | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="wsws1">{{cite web|url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/dec2005/sri2-d29.shtml|title=One year after the tsunami, Sri Lankan survivors still live in squalour|publisher=World Socialist Web Site|date=29 December 2005|access-date=24 December 2012|archive-date=23 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123063125/http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/dec2005/sri2-d29.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> From 1985 to 2006, the Sri Lankan government and Tamil insurgents held four rounds of peace talks without success. Both LTTE and the government resumed fighting in 2006, and the government officially backed out of the ceasefire in 2008.<ref name="a1" /> In 2009, under the [[President of Sri Lanka|Presidency]] of [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]], the [[Sri Lanka Armed Forces]] defeated the LTTE, bringing an end to the 26 year long civil war on 19 May 2009,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/18/tamil-tigers-killed-sri-lanka |title=Sri Lanka declares end to war with Tamil Tigers |work=The Guardian |date=19 May 2009 |access-date=18 August 2011 |location=London |first1=Matthew |last1=Weaver |first2=Gethin |last2=Chamberlain |archive-date=6 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906141729/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/18/tamil-tigers-killed-sri-lanka |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McDonald |first1=Mark |title=Tamil Tigers Confirm Death of Their Leader |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/world/asia/26lanka.html |access-date=11 April 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=25 May 2009 |archive-date=11 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411014251/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/world/asia/26lanka.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=24 May 2009|title=Tamil Tigers confirm leader's death|work=[[Al Jazeera English]]|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/05/2009524124042406562.html|access-date=2009-05-24|archive-date=25 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525011712/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/05/2009524124042406562.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=2009-05-24|title=Tamil Tigers admit leader is dead|work=[[BBC News]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8066129.stm|access-date=2009-05-24|archive-date=25 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525011643/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8066129.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> and re-established control of the entire country by the Sri Lankan Government.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/18/tamil-tigers-killed-sri-lanka |title=Sri Lanka declares end to war with Tamil Tigers |work=The Guardian |date=19 May 2009 |place=London |first1=Matthew |last1=Weaver |first2=Gethin |last2=Chamberlain |access-date=16 December 2016 |archive-date=6 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906141729/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/18/tamil-tigers-killed-sri-lanka |url-status=live }}</ref> Overall, between 60,000 and 100,000 people were killed during the course of the 26 year long conflict.<ref name="ABC200509">{{cite news |title=Up to 100,000 killed in Sri Lanka's civil war: UN |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-05-20/up-to-100000-killed-in-sri-lankas-civil-war-un/1689524 |newspaper=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC Australia]] |date=20 May 2009 |access-date=17 October 2015 |archive-date=23 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923153656/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-05-20/up-to-100000-killed-in-sri-lankas-civil-war-un/1689524 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sri Lanka |url=http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/srilanka/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=sri%20lanka&st=cse |work=[[The New York Times]] |first=Erik |last=Olsen |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=4 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804092738/http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/srilanka/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=sri%20lanka&st=cse |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings]] carried out by the terrorist group [[National Thowheeth Jama'ath]] on 21 April 2019 resulted in the brutal death of 261 innocent people.<ref name="timeline">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190428/columns/easter-sunday-massacres-where-do-we-go-from-here-347090.html|title=Easter Sunday massacres: Where do we go from here?|access-date=12 March 2023|archive-date=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428182021/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190428/columns/easter-sunday-massacres-where-do-we-go-from-here-347090.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 26 April 2019 an anti [[Sainthamaruthu shootout|terrorist operation]] was carried out against the National Thowheeth Jama'ath by the [[Sri Lanka Army]] with the operation being successful and National Thowheeth Jama'ath's insurgency ending.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sri-lanka-blasts-hospital-idUSKCN1S5113|title=Wife, daughter of Sri Lanka bombings mastermind will survive blast:...|newspaper=Reuters|date=29 April 2019|access-date=24 May 2019|via=www.reuters.com|archive-date=21 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521204214/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sri-lanka-blasts-hospital-idUSKCN1S5113|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/54693/15-bodies-including-children-found-at-blast-site-in-sainthamaruthu|title=15 bodies including children found at blast site in Sainthamaruthu|website=adaderana.lk|access-date=24 May 2019|archive-date=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428081702/http://www.adaderana.lk/news/54693/15-bodies-including-children-found-at-blast-site-in-sainthamaruthu|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hirunews.lk/215282/15-bodies-found-from-site-of-shootout-and-explosions-in-saindamaradu6-suicide-bombers-among-them|title=15 bodies found from site of shootout and explosions in Saindamaradu;6 Suicide bombers among them|website=Hiru News|access-date=29 April 2019|archive-date=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428081706/http://www.hirunews.lk/215282/15-bodies-found-from-site-of-shootout-and-explosions-in-saindamaradu6-suicide-bombers-among-them|url-status=live}}</ref>

Economic troubles in Sri Lanka began in 2019, when a [[2019–present Sri Lankan economic crisis|severe economic crisis]] occurred caused by rapidly increasing foreign debt, massive government budget deficits due to tax cuts, falling foreign remittances, a food crisis caused by mandatory organic farming along with a ban on chemical fertilizers, and a multitude of other factors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-23 |title=Everything to Know About Sri Lanka's Economic Crisis |url=https://www.borgenmagazine.com/sri-lankas-economic-crisis/ |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=BORGEN |language=en-US |archive-date=19 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519130407/https://www.borgenmagazine.com/sri-lankas-economic-crisis/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Sri Lankan Government officially declared the ongoing crisis to be the worst [[Economy of Sri Lanka|economic crisis in the country]] in 73 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-30 |title=Sri Lanka declares worst economic downturn in 73 years |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210430-sri-lanka-declares-worst-economic-downturn-in-73-years |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015180503/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210430-sri-lanka-declares-worst-economic-downturn-in-73-years |archive-date=2021-10-15 |access-date=2021-06-27 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref> In August 2021, a food emergency was declared.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 August 2021 |others=Agence France-Presse |title=Sri Lanka declares food emergency as forex crisis worsens |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/sri-lanka-declares-food-emergency-forex-crisis-1847478-2021-08-31 |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=6 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406094041/https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/sri-lanka-declares-food-emergency-forex-crisis-1847478-2021-08-31 |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2022, Prime Minister [[Ranil Wickremesinghe]] declared the collapse of the Sri Lankan economy in parliament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka's PM says its debt-laden economy has 'collapsed' |url=https://news.sky.com/story/sri-lankas-pm-says-its-debt-laden-economy-has-collapsed-12638329 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622094829/https://news.sky.com/story/sri-lankas-pm-says-its-debt-laden-economy-has-collapsed-12638329 |archive-date=22 June 2022 |access-date=2022-06-22 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref> The crisis resulted in Sri Lanka defaulting on its $51 billion sovereign debt for the first time in its history, along with double-digit inflation, a crippling energy crisis that led to approximately 15 hour power cuts, severe fuel shortages leading to the suspension of fuel to all non-essential vehicles, and more such economic disorder.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sri Lanka becomes first Asia-Pacific country in decades to default on foreign debt |url=https://www.newswire.lk/2022/05/19/sri-lanka-becomes-first-asia-pacific-country-in-decades-to-default-on-foreign-debt/ |access-date=19 May 2022 |work=NewsWire |date=19 May 2022 |archive-date=19 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519121627/https://www.newswire.lk/2022/05/19/sri-lanka-becomes-first-asia-pacific-country-in-decades-to-default-on-foreign-debt/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-11 |title=Sri Lanka to reduce power cut duration from April 18 as rains start – PUCSL |url=https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-to-reduce-power-cut-duration-from-april-18-as-rains-start-pucsl-92927 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=EconomyNext |language=en |archive-date=6 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706194528/https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-to-reduce-power-cut-duration-from-april-18-as-rains-start-pucsl-92927/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to the crisis, massive [[2022 Sri Lankan protests|street protests]] erupted all over the country, with protesters demanding the resignation of the President [[Gotabaya Rajapaksa]]. The protests culminated with the storming and siege of the [[President's House, Colombo|President's House]] on July 9, 2022, and resulted in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fleeing to Singapore<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 July 2022|title=Sri Lanka protesters break into President's House as thousands rally|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/09/asia/sri-lanka-protest-president-saturday-intl-hnk/index.html|access-date=9 July 2022|website=CNN|archive-date=15 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715132642/https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/09/asia/sri-lanka-protest-president-saturday-intl-hnk/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and later emailing his resignation to parliament, formally announcing his resignation and making him the first Sri Lankan president to resign in the middle of his term.<ref>{{cite news |title=President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Resigns – letter sent to Speaker of Parliament |url=https://www.hirunews.lk/english/309987/president-gotabaya-rajapaksa-resigns-letter-sent-to-speaker-of-parliament |access-date=14 July 2022 |work=Hiru News |date=14 July 2022 |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714134628/https://www.hirunews.lk/english/309987/president-gotabaya-rajapaksa-resigns-letter-sent-to-speaker-of-parliament |url-status=live }}</ref> On the same day the President's House was stormed, protesters besieged and stormed the [[115 Fifth Lane|private residence of the prime minister]] and burnt it down.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 July 2022 |title=Sri Lankan crisis: Protesters set PM Ranil Wickremesinghe's residence on fire |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/protesters-set-sri-lankan-pm-ranil-wickremesinghe-s-residence-on-fire-101657381849320.html |access-date=9 July 2022 |website=Hindustan Times News |language=en |archive-date=13 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713064308/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/protesters-set-sri-lankan-pm-ranil-wickremesinghe-s-residence-on-fire-101657381849320.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

After [[Parliament of Sri Lanka|Parliament]] elected the new president as [[Ranil Wickremesinghe]] on [[2022 Sri Lankan presidential election|20 July 2022]], Wickremesinghe took oath as the ninth President of Sri Lanka.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/ranil-wickremesinghe-takes-oath-as-sri-lankan-president-video-1978092-2022-07-21|title=Ranil Wickremesinghe takes oath as President of Sri Lanka|website=indiatoday.in|date=2022-07-21|access-date=29 July 2023|archive-date=25 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325190951/https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/ranil-wickremesinghe-takes-oath-as-sri-lankan-president-video-1978092-2022-07-21|url-status=live}}</ref> He implemented various economic reforms in efforts to stabilize Sri Lanka's economy, which has shown slight improvement since.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lanka-cuts-policy-rates-to-reduce-inflation-and-boost-economic-recovery/article66919025.ece | title=Sri Lanka cuts policy rates to reduce inflation and boost economic recovery | newspaper=The Hindu | date=June 2023 | access-date=6 October 2023 | archive-date=27 September 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927194156/https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lanka-cuts-policy-rates-to-reduce-inflation-and-boost-economic-recovery/article66919025.ece | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/03/01/022224oped-srilanka-economic-reform-program-is-starting-to-work|title=Sri Lanka's Economic Reform Program is Starting to Work—Keep at It for a Full Recovery|website=IMF}}</ref> On 23 September 2024, [[Anura Kumara Dissanayake]] was sworn in as Sri Lanka's new president after winning the presidential [[2024 Sri Lankan presidential election|election]] as a left-wing candidate.<ref>{{cite news |title=Anura Kumara Dissanayake sworn in as Sri Lanka's president |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqxr03x4dvzo |work=www.bbc.com}}</ref> On 14 November 2024, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's [[National People's Power]] (NPP), a left-leaning alliance, received a two-thirds majority in parliament in Sri Lankan [[2024 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|parliamentary election.]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Sri Lanka: Left-leaning leader's coalition secures landslide victory |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crr9n2w0lyzo |work=www.bbc.com}}</ref>