US' Yellen Says China Has 'Important Role' In Sri Lanka

Comments from US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen hitting wires. She is currently in Japan meeting her counterpart Shunichi Suzuki.

• Yellen calls out China's actions vis-a-vis debt restructuring and stated that China's 'lack of cooperation' on the issue had been a 'topic of discussion' with the IMF, G20, and G7.
• Also made comments regarding the febrile political environment in Sri Lanka. Says that the country is in a 'very difficult situation' and that China 'plays an important role'.
• The incumbent President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have announced their resignations. A motion has been filed with the Supreme Court to stop high-ranking members of Rajapaksa's gov't, including the president's brothers who both have served in Cabinet, from leaving the country.
• The poltiical chaos, which has seen the burning of the PM's residence and the public storming of the presidential palace, has come amid a deep financial crisis in the south Asian nation. The Rajapaksa gov't seen as v close to both Chinese investors and the Chinese gov't.