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Sri Lanka's political and economic crisis escalated as protesters stormed the prime minister's office on Wednesday, demanding the country's leaders step down after President Gotabaya Rajapaksafled to the Maldives without resigning, CNN reported.

Rajapaksa had been expected to formally resign Wednesday but instead left the crisis-hit nation and appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as its acting leader, citing a section of the constitution that allows a prime minister to "discharge the powers, duties and functions of the office of president" when the president is ill or "absent" from Sri Lanka. 

Wickremesinghe was also due to formally resign "to make way for an all-party government."

The move further enraged protesters, who want both leaders to vacate their roles as the country's 22 million people struggle to buy basic goods, fuel and medicine.

Hundreds of demonstrators breached the compound of the prime minister's office in Sri Lanka's largest city Colombo on Wednesday and entered the premises, according to footage from the scene and local witnesses. 

The grounds have now been taken over by protesters who are gathering in celebration, following a standoff with armed police at the gates of the property.

People could be seen on the balcony of the property, lighting firecrackers and waving the Sri Lankan flag, according to witnesses.

Demonstrators outside demanded that neither the President nor the Prime Minister "be spared."

This follows months of escalating anger over the economic crisis, with Rajapaksa accused of high-level corruption and mismanagement that ultimately bankrupted the country.

As demonstrators took to the streets, acting President Wickremesinghe appointed a committee of senior armed forces commanders headed by the Chief of Defense Staff Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva to "restore law and order" in the nation, a high-ranking military official told CNN Wednesday, according to CNN.

Wickremesinghe declared a state of emergency across Sri Lanka and a curfew on Wednesday only to later cancel both orders, according to the prime minister's office. 

In Colombo, a handful of protesters also entered the premises of state broadcaster Sri Lanka Rupavahini on Wednesday, negotiating a "deal" with broadcast staff to not give airtime to politicians such as Wickremesinghe.

At the prime minister's office, demonstrators waving the Sri Lankan flag thronged the building and celebrated on the balcony of the property after a standoff with the police, according to eyewitnesses and footage from the scene, CNN reported.

Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Sher Bahadur Kunwar has pressed an idea of recognizing the contribution of workers along with security of employers.

In his address to a programme organised by the Kailali Chamber of Commerce and Industry here today, he said the government has the policy of acknowledging the role of workers and respecting employers.

Provisions are in place since a few days ago to pay medical expenditures of labourers through an online system.

Now workers can enjoy the government subsidy for general treatment in 26 health facilities and of them, 18 have already connected to the online system. As he said, workers have to bear 20 percent and remaining 80 percent will be borne by the Social Security Fund for the treatment. Such facility will be available at hospitals across the country in the future. "In case of accidental cases, we are talking about the hundred percent contributions from the Fund."

He added cultural activists and media persons will also be incorporated in the Fund.

Attorney General Khamma Bahadur Khati has insisted on cooperation among judicial bodies.

While inaugurating a newly constructed building of the District Government Attorney Office of Chitwan, here today, he said cooperation and support among judicial offices were vital to see a robust justice delivery system.

He said a lack of coordination among the attorney offices, police, and court would cause problems in executing justice. As he said, people’s faith on judiciary has been declining and it must be prevented.

He was of the view that none (survivors) should be denied of justice upon their request for the same. “Weak investigations will have its implications on the entire justice-delivery process.”

The Attorney General admitted lack of required human resources in district attorney offices has hampered the government efforts to ensure prompt justice to the people. The proportion of judge to government attorneys at present is 1:2.

On the occasion, deputy attorney general Krishna Jeevi Ghimire said they are working on a plan to address the issues of human resources crunch while district judge Hemant Rawal said a hostile statement is one the challenges judiciary is facing in course of executing justices and said it happens when survivor is or feels unsafe to demand justice. He was of the view of ensuring safety of survivors and protecting required evidences to see an effective judiciary.

The foundation stone of the building was laid on January 28, 2020 and it cost Rs 49.87 million to complete the project. The three storey-building spreads on 10 kattha of land (one kattha is equivalent to 3645 sq.ft) at Bharatpur metropolis-10.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba completed his one year in office on Wednesday.

On the occasion, the government made public the list of achievements it made in one year.

He was appointed the Prime Minister on July 13, 2021 by the mandamus order of the Supreme Court which overturned then KP Sharma Oli’s decision to dissolve the House.

The Prime Minister’s Secretariat has made public 42 achievements that have been accomplished by the Deuba government in his one year.

The government has become successful in ending political instability and misgovernance, in taking the country ahead in a democratic method, holding the local level elections on time and administering Covid-19 vaccines to all eligible citizens, the Secretariat said.

In the report released on the occasion of its 100-days, the government said that it adopted a foreign policy based on national interest to strengthen ties with all the countries and made an arrangement for the treatment of those injured in the various movements.

Similarly, the Secretariat said that the government has announced a monthly allowance of Rs 5, 000 to patients with kidney and spinal injuries and decided to provide a one-time payment of Rs 10,000 each for 500,000 poor house households.

Likewise, the government has endorsed the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), decided to provide old age allowance under the social security program from the age of 68, started farmers' pension program, decided to provide 98 types of medicines free of cost to the people under the poverty line and increase salary of civil servants by 15 percent.

The government said that it decided to withdraw the State Partnership Program (SPP) and started selling electricity to India among others.