Sri Lanka president’s invite to opposition as all ministers resign amid crisis.
Amid Sri Lanka’s worst crisis in decades, president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has invited all political parties in the country to join the ‘unity government’ to find a solution. Rajapaksa called on the opposition to “work together”, news agenc reported.
Sri Lanka’s crisis intensified on Sunday after all 26 ministers of prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s cabinet stepped down, allowing him to induct new faces. The move came after thousands of people defied a weekend curfew on Sunday to protest across the island demanding the ouster of the Rajapaksa family in the midst of growing public anger.
Sri Lanka prime minister’s son, Namal Rajapaksa, is among those who have quit from their cabinet positions. Taking to Twitter, he wrote, “I have informed the sec. to the President of my resignation from all portfolios with immediate effect, in hope that it may assist HE & PMs decision to establish stability for the people & the govt of #LKA. I remain committed to my voters, my party & the people of #Hambanthota. (sic).”
A day after the cabinet ministers quit, Sri Lankan central bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal also submitted his resignation on Monday, reported Reuters. Meanwhile, authorities on Monday halted trading on Sri Lanka’s stock exchange after the share market plunged 5.9 per cent, according to a report by news agency.
In the last few days, the Sri Lankan economic crisis has taken an intense turn. The government, after declaring an emergency Friday, had restricted access to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media sites for almost 15 hours. The ban was lifted on Sunday, following massive outrage. According to a local news report, the move was aimed at “preventing masses from gathering in Colombo to protest the government’s failure to provide relief to the public suffering from shortages of food, essentials, fuel and medicine amidst hours-long power cuts.”
A huge protest was seen in the capital city of Colombo on Thursday outside the president’s house.
The country is facing massive blackouts and shortage of essentials as it struggles to keep the national economy on track.