Sri Lankan pilgrims to be evacuated from Nepal

The Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry said that the pilgrims were at the India–Nepal border preparing to leave Nepal.

Sri Lanka Embassy officials were personally engaged with the immigration authorities of Nepal to expedite the procedures, as their system was not functioning.

As per the Embassy , the Nepal Army has taken control of the situation and has already issued an announcement instructing people to stay at home.

The Foreign Ministry said that as per the update from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Kathmandu, the number of Sri Lankans living in Nepal is 102.

“Sri Lankans are safe and no incidents were reported in involved any Sri Lankans. Embassy in connection with community closely on social media groups. And known persons network. Spaces has been made to reach out the embassy for any assistance. Foreign ministry is in constant communication with Embassy,” the Foreign Ministry said in a brief note.

Demonstrators in Kathmandu have defied a curfew and broken into and set fire to the parliament building. They had earlier stormed the office of the Nepali Congress, the country’s largest party, and several prominent politicians’ residences.

Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli stepped down on Tuesday amid escalating anticorruption protests. The resignation came a day after 19 people were killed by security forces in violent demonstrations sparked by a social media ban.

Exuberant young people flooded the parliament complex upon hearing the news, waving their hands and shouting slogans as smoke billowed from parts of the building.

Oli’s government had lifted the social media ban after protests intensified on Monday when police used live ammunition and deployed tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators trying to storm parliament. The confrontation killed 19 people and injured more than 100.