St John Ambulance was called to an incident after reports of multiple casualties injured by gunshots at a location in Port Moresby yesterday. Multiple ambulances and paramedics responded to the call and were on scene within minutes and tried to render aid to the victims. Ambulance staff were blocked from accessing the casualties at the scene by some members of the community who were angry about the shooting and demanded that senior police command attend the scene before allowing ambulance officers to treat the victims. "Our ambulance officers are dedicated to their role in saving lives and serving others". St John says that obstructing ambulance staff endangers other people's lives and pleads with the public to always allow ambulance staff to do their life-saving work.

A total of 548 retired Public Servants will be paid out this week their retirement benefits as the second batch of retirees under the Public Service Retirement Exercise for 2022. The 548 officers are from 18 government agencies. The retired public servants will be paid out at a total cost of K50.78 Million on Pay 14 this week. Majority of the retirees are from the Police Department with 329 retired police personnel and public servants. The total cost is the combination of Gross payments and Personal Emolument (PE) Liabilities, excluding their Nambawan Super retirement funds. The retirees are from the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (329), Correction Service Institute (63), PNG Defence Force (29), Department of Works & Implementation (79), Department of Personnel Management (1), Treasury Department (1), Education Department (3), Department of Agriculture & Livestock (1), National Statistic Office (1), Pom General Hospital (4), Laloki Hospital (4), West New Britain PHA (2), Enga PHA (6), Southern Highlands PHA (1), Enga Provincial Administration (17), Hela Provincial Administration (1), Southern Highlands Provincial Administration (4) and Manus Provincial Administration (1). Department of Personnel Management Secretary Ms Taies Sansan said, the officers were identified by their respective agencies and their names submitted to DPM for validation and verification to be paid out. Secretary Ms. Sansan said, the retirement exercise has been on going since 2019 of which over 2, 600 public servants have so far been paid out at a cost of K119.7 million. “We are continuing the retirement exercise this year. The government had allocated K200 million in the 2022 annual budget to retire aging public servants and my department will continue to coordinate with all line agencies to ensure this process is executed well this year”. DPM has coordinated the public sector retirement program following an NEC decision in 2017, which has seen the development of a ‘Whole of Government approach undertaken to ensure all public servants who have reached the compulsory retirement age of 65 or those that are required to retire on medical grounds are paid out and put off the pay roll. “The vacancies created will also mean the workforce is better positioned to implement reforms, including the engagement of a new breed of Papua New Guinean public servants out of universities and colleges”. Secretary Ms. Sansan has thanked the government for the continued support to ensure that public servants who have reached compulsory retirement age are paid out.

Prime Minister Hon. James Marape travels to Fiji today (Tuesday, July 12, 2022) for the 51st Pacific Islands Forum (PIF51) taking place in the capital, Suva. He will return on Thursday (July 14, 2022). PIF leaders from 18 member countries will gather face-to face for the first time since 2019 to discuss a basket of issues affecting the region. PM Marape will meet host of the 51st PIF and Fijian Prime Minister Hon. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama and newly-elected Australian Prime Minister Hon. Anthony Albanese on the margins of the 51st PIF. The meeting, hosted by the Fijian government, is billed as one of the most-significant in recent history as the region gradually emerges from the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic. PM Marape, who has been extremely caught up in election matters, has made time available in his very-busy schedule to participate as Head of Government at this important regional summit. “I will be out of the country for a day-and-a-half and return on Thursday, given that the elections are still in progress,” he said. "In my absence, I have designated Deputy Prime Minister Hon. John Rosso, to be Acting Prime Minister “The PIF is a very-important regional meeting for all Pacific nations, and as the sitting Prime Minister of the largest island nation, I must attend to ensure that PNG presence is felt and support and discuss progress on our shared-regional issues. “A very-pressing issue I have been handling, as a PIF leader, has been my involvement as Interlocutor of the Political Dialogue Mechanism (PDM) endorsed by PIF Leaders to negotiate an amicable way forward for Micronesian countries not break away from the PIF over contentious issues relating to the appointment of the Secretary-General of the PIF Secretariat. "Micronesian countries raised serious concerns that their candidate was not elected on a purported Gentlemans Agreement for the position of PIF Secretary-General under a regional rotational basis. “In fact, there have been indications by Micronesia nations to break away from the PIF. "Yesterday, Kiribati and Nauru informed of their non-attendance at the 51st PIF “As a senior member of PIF, PNG plays an important role to ensure that we, as a family of Pacific nations, remain together in the interest of regional stability and a collective voice for our socio-economic development agenda.” Apart from the above, PM Marape said several issues confronting the region would be on the table as the PIF celebrated 51 years of Pacific regionalism. “Among several issues which will be on the table are the intensifying geopolitical competition in the region, addressing the impacts of climate change, mending the Micronesian rift, COVID-19 recovery, and talks on the regional nuclear legacy, among others,” he said. “The PIF in Suva is expected to conclude with the launching of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which has been developed over three years after wide consultation across the region. “The 2050 strategy, once endorsed, will become the blueprint that will set out the collective vision for the region in terms of oceans preservation, conservation and sustainable management for our future generations” Whilst in Suva, PM Marape will also hand-over the Chairmanship of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) at a Special MSG Leaders meeting on the margins of the 51st PIF to the incoming Chairman and Prime Minister of Vanuatu Hon. Bob Loughman. He will also formally introduce the new Director-General of the MSG Secretariat, Mr Leonard Louma,, a senior PNG Citizen who will officially be stationed at the MSG Secretariat in Port Vila for the next four years.

Polling in the Eastern Highlands will commence tomorrow with polling officials and materials dispatched today, according to the Election Manager, Steven Gore Kaupa. Mr. Kaupa said the polling officials for the eight districts in Eastern Highlands left this morning after distribution of the materials. Insertion of officials for districts which have areas that are geographically challenging including Obura-Wonera and Okapa would be made by helicopter from the respective stations of Okapa and Obura after the road journey from the Eastern Highlands capital, Goroka. Mr. Kaupa also expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support from the Provincial Police Commander Michael Welly and his men and women for the quiet nomination and campaign period. “I am expecting a quiet election in Eastern Highlands. We have done a lot of work. I am thankful for PPC Michael Welly and his men and women who have laid a platform where we expect a peaceful election,” Mr. Kaupa said. The election manager said once polling is completed; all ballot boxes will be stored in containers at the National Sports Institute. “All our security partners, the Police, Defence Force and the Correctional Services will be at the NSI and once all the ballot boxes are brought in, counting will commence.” Counting the province is expected to commence on the 14th or 15th July and end on the 23rd or 24th of July and the writs returned on the 26th.

Police officers in provincial areas are providing increasingly effective services for survivors of family and sexual violence (FSV) under the training and guidance of senior colleagues. Earlier this year, senior Family and Sexual Violence Unit (FSVU) police officers attended training on responding to complaints of family and sexual violence. The training increased awareness of challenges faced by survivors, the manipulation and control tactics used by offenders, and how police should respond. Following the training, senior FSVU officers, including Senior Constable Joyce Nii from Banz Police Station, Constable Newman Limbao of the Chinatown FSVU in Lae, Sergeant Betty Kanari of the Popondetta FSVU, Senior Sergeant Ruth Murup from Morobe and Sergeant Judy Girua of the Goroko FSVU, travelled to the Highlands to mentor local FSVU staff and pass on these skills. This innovative RPNGC training and mentoring program, supported by the PNG-Australia Partnership, has had an immediate impact on the ability of local FSVU police to investigate and respond to FSV complaints and support survivors. Since the training, participants have been putting what they learnt in action with practical results. Senior Constable Joyce Nii drew on what she learned at the training to successfully execute her first arrest for family violence. The perpetrator was subsequently found guilty and placed on a three-year good behaviour bond. Additionally, in a single day in May, officers from the local FSVU in Kundiawa responded to eight omplaints, four of them involving allegations of FSV. Supported by mentoring from the senior officers, the FSVU officers took statements and provided referrals to the nearby Family Support Centre for further support. Further, Senior Sergeant Ruth Murup mentored officers in both Minj and Banz to better support survivors. Murup said that FSVU officers at Minj and Banz were incorporating improved practices in their work, including filling A U S T R A L I A N H I G H C O M M I S S I O N P O R T M O R E S B Y out daily intake forms, following up on cases and establishing links with external support organisations like Voices for Change (a women’s human rights organisation). “The two members from Minj [FSVU] are new and learning at the same time,” Senior Sergeant Murup said, “After attending the training, Constable Rose Philip managed to issue her first Interim Protection Order with help from the mentors, providing immediate protection and support to the survivor.” The Australian Government, through the PNG-Australia Partnership, has provided sustained support for the professional development of senior FSVU officers, including assisting with the delivery of the Goroka workshop. If you or anyone you know is experiencing family or sexual violence, call the 1-Tok Kaunsellin Helpim Lain on 7150 8000 (24 hours, 7 days).

Norman Vanua was ranked 16th last year with Charles Amini at 17th and Assad Vala at 20th. Since than Norman slowly made his way up to the TOP 10 group of the ICC Men’s T20I All-Rounder Ranking. Norman is now currently ranked 9th with a rating of 155. Congratulations to Norman Vanua and the KPHL PNG Barramundis on this incredible achievement and continuing to represent PNG in World Cricket. [caption id="attachment_23741" align="alignnone" width="738"] Source ICC Cricket.com[/caption] Text Source: Cricket PNG FB Page

A couple from the United States of America (USA) who illegally entered Papua New Guinea and engaged in alluvial mining with locals from the eastern coast of Central Bougainville were deported, the Minister for Immigration and Border Security Bryan Kramer said. The US citizens, Bradley and Christine Noffsinger, were arrested by police and immigration officials in Central Bougainville, detained, and deported to the US State of Los Angeles on the 12th of June. “The couple were deported because they entered the country through an unauthorized port of entry without legal entry permits,” Minister Kramer said. “The couple entered South Bougainville through Solomon Islands onboard a small boat loaded with alluvial mining equipment.” Immigration movement records show that the couple lawfully visited PNG at least three times in the last ten years. Their first visit was in 2012 and second in 2013 where they spent at least two weeks engaging with local people doing alluvial mining in Wau, Morobe province. In 2015, the couple made a third visit and stayed for eight days in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville where they made connections with ‘people of interests’ to do alluvial mining on the east coast of Central Bougainville. Minister Kramer said that following that Bougainville connection, the couple tried to smuggle alluvial mining equipment into Bougainville in 2016 which were confiscated by Solomon Islands Authorities at the maritime border. “That same year, the couple made another trip to PNG but were denied entry at Jacksons International Airport after an alert was placed on their movement,” he said. With no access into PNG, the couple decided to cross the border illegally. In September 2020, they loaded their small boat with undocumented alluvial mining equipment and sailed into South Bougainville through the Tonolei harbor where they were apprehended and charged for unlawful entry. The undeclared assets they brought in were forfeited to the State. “The PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority (PNGICA) has a duty of care and provided hotel accommodation to the couple during the Covid-19 period and the closure of international borders. We gave them the option to voluntarily return, but after all means were exhausted, we deported them,” Minister Kramer said. He thanked the Chief of Bougainville Police Services and its officers for the positive collaboration with the PNGICA in apprehending the couple, and for their continuous support in addressing border issues. The Chief Migration Officer, Stanis Hulahau, is appealing to PNG citizens and residents to ensure foreigners invited to the country to engage in businesses obtain the appropriate permits, including registration of their entities with the relevant regulatory bodies. The PNGICA is now strictly enforcing its mandated duties and those found to have breached the laws will be appropriately dealt with.

Prime Minister Hon. James Marape says Papua New Guinea is saddened at the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Hon. Shinzo Abe. He said PNG, and the world, was shocked at the shooting of Abe while campaigning in Japan on Friday. PM Marape said PNG had benefitted so much from Japan during the term of office of Abe, including the PNG Electrification Partnership that was signed at the APEC Summit in Port Moresby in 2018, and many more projects such as the Nadzab Airport Development in Morobe. “Relationships between Japan and PNG were very strong during the time of Abe as Prime Minister of Japan,” he said. “Abe visited PNG two times – in 2014 and for APEC in 2018 – and relationships between our two countries reached a high. “Japan was the first buyer of LNG from Japan in 2014 under the leadership of Abe and I, representing my people of Tari-Pori and as Finance Minister, was present for that momentous occasion. “Abe strengthened the Pacific Islands Leaders’ Meeting (PALM) process, brought PNG into the G7 and strengthened our role in APEC. “He was instrumental in signing the K4 billion PNG Electrification Partnership with USA, Australia and New Zealand during APEC 2018 that will deliver electricity to 70 per cent of PNG’s rural population by 2030. “Japan has been supporting self-reliance and sustainable development of PNG through Official Development Assistance (ODA) in areas such as infrastructure development and maintenance, education and medical care, cooperation for the improvement of agriculture and other sectors, and cooperation for improvement of the sewage disposal system and forest preservation. “Japan, as a friend of PNG since the 1970s, has provided long-term assistance to PNG to this country through development assistance in socio-economic and human resources development, high-level mutual visits and international conferences such as PALM.” PM Marape said Abe set the foundation for stronger Japan-PNG relations, and even after he vacated office in 2020, PNG continued to benefit from Japan during COVID-19 and a K1 billion concessional loan in 2021. “The Japanese loan has helped PNG to finance our K19.6 billion 2021 National Budget, repay our debts and stabilize the economy,” he said. “This came about because of the strong relationship between our two countries forged by Abe. “Papua New Guinea is saddened at the loss of our great friend, Hon. Shinzo Abe, and join with the rest of the world in mourning his untimely passing. “May God Bless his family and Japan at this sad time.”

Polling started slow this morning for Southern Highlands province with some electorates starting early while others had their officials complete their quality checks before polling could start. Provincial Election Manager, Mr Alwyn Jimmy said people who are eligible to vote must make their way to the polling areas and cast their vote. “If you miss out today, you can vote tomorrow.“ “No issues as yet with people whose names are not on the list to vote.” Mr Jimmy said that they will deal with the issue of names not being on the common roll when the issue arises. He added that so far they haven’t had any election related violence in the province leading up to polling today. “The Police Commissioner has said that the joint security forces will provide security during polling however they were still on their way from Enga Province.” “It’s quiet so far but anything can happen.” “Areas that are regarded as hotspots will have a security team to make sure everything goes smoothly.” He further added that candidates, their scrutineers and supporters must take ownership and talk to people in their electorates to put aside their differences so the election process can go well without any hiccups.

LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his resignation after droves of top government officials quit over the latest scandal to engulf him, marking an end to three tumultuous years in which he tried to bluster his way through one ethical lapse after another. Months of defiance ended almost with a shrug as Johnson stood outside No. 10 Downing St. and conceded that his party wanted him gone. “Them’s the breaks,” he said. The brash, 58-year-old politician who took Britain out of the European Union and steered it through COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine was brought down by one scandal too many — this one involving his appointment of a politician who had been accused of sexual misconduct. The messiest of prime ministers did not leave cleanly. Johnson stepped down immediately as Conservative Party leader but said he would remain as prime minister until the party chooses his successor. The timetable for that process will be announced. The last leadership contest took six weeks. But many want him to go now, with some Conservative politicians expressing fear he could do mischief even as a caretaker prime minister. “It’s very difficult to see how Boris Johnson, given the character that he is, is going to be able to govern for three months in quiet humility and contrition,” said George Freeman, who resigned as science minister on Thursday. Among the possible candidates to succeed Johnson: former Health Secretary Sajid Javid, former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Defense Secretary Ben Wallace. About 50 Cabinet secretaries, ministers and lower-level officials quit the government over the past few days because of the latest scandal, often castigating the prime minister as lacking integrity. The mass resignations stalled the business of some parliamentary committees because there were no ministers available to speak on the government’s behalf. Johnson clung to power for days, defiantly telling lawmakers on Wednesday that he had a “colossal mandate” from the voters and intended to get on with the business of governing. But he was forced to concede defeat Thursday morning after one of his closest allies, newly appointed Treasury chief Nadhim Zahawi, publicly told him to resign for the good of the country. “In the last few days, I tried to persuade my colleagues that it would be eccentric to change governments when we’re delivering so much and when we have such a vast mandate,” Johnson said. “I regret not to have been successful in those arguments, and of course it’s painful not to be able to see through so many ideas and projects myself.” He said it is “clearly now the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader of that party and therefore a new prime minister.” Critics said the speech showed Johnson, to the end, refusing to take responsibility for or admit his mistakes. Many Britons reacted to news of his resignation with relief and surprise, given his habit of digging in. “It felt like he can just keep on going and keep on ignoring it, so I was bit surprised this morning when saw it on my phone,” Himmat Dalyway, an investment trader in his 20s, said outside an Underground station in London. “Are you still 100% sure that he is going?″ As Johnson gathered his cobbled-together Cabinet for a meeting after his resignation announcement, he promised not to rock the boat in his remaining weeks. He told members the government would not “seek to implement new policies or make major changes of direction.” It was a humiliating defeat for Johnson, who not only pulled off Brexit but was also credited with rolling out one of the world’s most successful mass vaccination campaigns to combat COVID-19. But the perpetually rumpled, shaggy-haired leader known for answering his critics with bombast and bluster was also dogged by allegations he behaved as if the rules did not apply to him. He managed to remain in power despite accusations that he was too close to party donors, that he protected supporters from bullying and corruption allegations, and that he misled Parliament about government office parties that broke COVID-19 lockdown rules. When allegations of Downing Street parties emerged, Johnson told lawmakers “there was no party” and no rules were broken. But when photos of the prime minister raising a glass in front of a group of people surfaced, critics, some of them inside the Conservative Party, said Johnson had lied to Parliament — traditionally a resigning matter. The prime minister was fined by police over the parties and survived a no-confidence vote last month in Parliament in which 41% of Conservative lawmakers tried to oust him. Johnson became prime minister in July 2019, succeeding Theresa May, who resigned after Parliament rejected the Brexit agreement she negotiated with the EU. Johnson pushed his own Brexit deal through in an often messy and turbulent debate. With his mop of unruly blond hair, he often looked like a schoolboy who had just rolled out of bed and run to class with his pajamas under his clothes. In his rise to power he showed many of the same habits and abilities that would carry him far but also spell his downfall: He was an ebullient, attention-loving mayor of London; a journalist who was fired for making up a quote and filed exaggerated stories about EU excesses; and a politician with an Eton- and Oxford-honed talent for colorful oratory and the thrust and parry of debate. He became known for his light regard for the truth and his glib and offensive remarks. He called Papua New Guineans cannibals and likened Muslim women who wear face-covering veils to “letter boxes.” Recent disclosures that Johnson knew about sexual misconduct allegations against a Conservative lawmaker before he promoted him to a senior position in government proved to be one scandal too many. The crisis began when Chris Pincher resigned as deputy chief whip amid accusations that he had groped two men at a private club. That triggered a series of reports about past allegations against Pincher. Johnson offered shifting explanations about what he knew and when he knew it. That just heightened the sense that the prime minister couldn’t be trusted. Key Cabinet members Javid and Sunak, who were responsible, respectively, for fighting COVID-19 and inflation, resigned within minutes of each other Tuesday. That set off the wave of departures by their colleagues. Now with a leadership election upon them, the Conservatives will have to decide whether they can stomach Johnson as a caretaker leader, a job that normally entails saying little and doing nothing. “To be honest, I think a lot of the public will want to see him gone straightaway,” said Tim Bale, a professor of politics at Queen Mary, University of London. “You know, they don’t want to see him hanging around like a bad smell in Downing Street.” Source: AP News

The number of polling days in Milne Bay will be shorter because of the increase of 130 polling teams in this year’s National General Election (NGE), says the Milne Bay Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Superintendent Peter Barkie. The 130 polling teams were assigned three security personnel each as polling security to assist the Electoral Commission to cover the four districts of Alotau, Esa’ala, Kiriwina Good Enough and Samarai Murua and the 16 Local Level Governments. Mr Barkie said in the 2017 national general elections there were 79 polling teams dispatched into the LLGS and it was a struggle to cover the country’s largest maritime province which has over 252,000 square kilometres of water. He said, “We have over 600 islands of which only 160 are inhabited. So, you can understand the logistical nightmare we have.” Most of the polling started as scheduled on Monday July 4 and ended on Sunday July 10, 2022. Most teams did polls for only three to four days. By Saturday July 9, the Esa’ala district completed polling. Kiriwina Goodenough completed polling at 6pm on Saturday and on Sunday July 10 began transporting ballot boxes into Alotau. Mr Barkie said, “For the Alotau district and all the other LLGS polling is completed except for two LLGs in Rabaraba. We have some landlocked areas that are not connected by road or water so you have to walk for days to get there. We are still waiting for air support to get into those two areas - Daga LLG and Weraura LL. “We were told that helicopters would come on Sunday 10 July so hopefully we get them inserted on Sunday and they poll for two to three days and come back on Wednesday or Thursday this week. “Alotau district has 7 LLGS. Samarai Murua district is mostly islands so all their polling is completed except for one LLG with no communication so we don’t know. We will only know when the boat returns to Misima. Murua area has no communication at all.” He said that as PPC he “planned for the worst but hoped for the best”. He acknowledged that Milne Bay has been known for the wrong reasons, criminals and piracy, but none of that happened during the election period so he is happy that polling is now coming to an end. “Those worst-case scenarios did not happen. We know that there will be discontentment over the ballot boxes or common roll and a lot of people did not find their names in there, but the situation was managed and we proceeded with polling,” he said. According to the Provincial Returning Officer Ivan Maraka, counting should start today or no later than Wednesday this week. The counting will be done at the provincial headquarters in Alotau. Meanwhile, network coverage remains an issue along with other logistical hiccups that stalled polling in some parts of Milne Bay. “Most of our islands do not have networks. So, when you send troops up there, you don’t know what they do up there until they return back on boats from Misima and Alotau,’ Mr Barkie explained. Although Milne Bay only has a total strength of 76 policemen and women for the four districts, he is happy and confident with the boost in manpower of 534 security personnel now on the ground who will assist the Provincial Election Manager to deliver a safe, fair and free 2022 National General Election. Mr Barkie highlighted the arrangements on the ground included the polling security of which 65 reinforcements came NCD, the Quick Response Force (QRF) comprising of 20 Mobile Squad members, 25 from the PNG Defence Force, the Correctional Service with a contingent of 17, 25 members of the Navy Maritime Platoon and seven Water Police personnel. He has activated 285 special constables who assisted in delivering this election with the assistance of his policemen and women including the Command and Logistics support team

Colombo, Sri Lanka (CNN)Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday said he was willing to resign and make way for an all-party government to take over, shortly after protesters reportedly breached his official residence in Colombo during demonstrations over the country's worsening economic crisis. "To ensure the continuation of the Government including the safety of all citizens I accept the best recommendation of the Party Leaders today, to make way for an All-Party Government," Wickremesinghe wrote on Twitter. "To facilitate this I will resign as Prime Minister." His statement came after a meeting of party leaders, held by Sri Lanka's parliament speaker, agreed to ask both the President and Prime Minister to resign per an "overwhelming request," Sri Lankan lawmaker Rauff Hakeem tweeted on Saturday. Wickremesinghe has not yet submitted his letter of resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Sri Lanka's Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena says President Rajapaksa has informed him he will resign on July 13, the speaker's office announced late Saturday. The announcement comes after the Speaker asked the President to resign following a meeting of party leaders. Anger reached unprecedented levels in the South Asian nation of 22 million on Saturday, as more than 100,000 people massed outside Rajapaksa's residence, calling for his resignation. Video broadcast on Sri Lankan television and on social media showed the protesters enter the President's House -- Rajapaksa's office and residence in the commercial capital -- after breaking through security cordons placed by police. Images show demonstrators inside the building and hanging banners from the balcony, as well as swimming in the residence's pool. Rajapaksa is not at the site and has been moved elsewhere, security officials told CNN. It is unclear how many security personnel are present at the location. Protesters then also breached Wickremesinghe's official residence in Colombo, known as Temple Trees, according to local media reports, while video of protesters entering the gates to Wickremesinghe's residence circulated on social media on Saturday. Demonstrators also broke into Wickremesinghe's private residence, on Fifth Lane, and set it on fire, according to his office. Live video streamed by local media and seen by CNN showed the residence engulfed in flames as crowds gathered at the scene. Wickremesinghe was not there at the time it was breached: He had been moved earlier to a secure location, his office said. If both Wickremesinghe and Rajapaksa resign, under the Sri Lankan constitution, the speaker of parliament will serve as acting president for a maximum of 30 days. Meanwhile, parliament will elect a new President within 30 days from one of its members who will hold the office for the remaining two years of the current term. At least 55 people have been injured in the protests, according to Dr. Pushpa Zoysa with the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, who said the figure included three people with gunshot wounds. Among those injured is a lawmaker from eastern Sri Lanka, she added. Earlier Saturday, Wickremesinghe called an emergency meeting of party leaders to discuss the current situation and come to a resolution, his office said. He also asked the Speaker of Parliament to summon MPs. Source: CNN.com