The entire government of the island nation of Sri Lanka plans to step down as soon as a unity government agreement can be reached. “All ministers who took part in the discussion plan to hand over the baton once agreement is reached on the formation of a unity government,” Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s cabinet said on Monday. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa also informed the head of the cabinet of his resignation.
Meanwhile, protesters continued to occupy the presidential palace and office and the prime minister’s official residence on Monday. According to the police, security forces did not initially try to recapture the building.
Protesters demand immediate withdrawal
The speaker of parliament had already announced over the weekend that President Rajapaksa would resign from his position on Wednesday. However, the protesters demand the immediate withdrawal of Rajapaksa. Until then, they want to continue their protests.
Protesters and opposition parties are also calling for Prime Minister Wickremesinghe to resign. They threaten nationwide strikes starting Thursday if the prime minister and president have not resigned by then. Wickremesinghe had tendered his resignation this weekend to pave the way for a new all-party government.
Protesters in the palace pool
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Colombo last weekend. They also managed to storm the official buildings. Photos of protesters in the swimming pool of the presidential palace went around the world. The events are the culmination of the massive protests that have been going on for months. For the second night in a row, the protesters played music in the presidential palace, made use of the gym and swimming pool.
“But it’s not just about the president’s departure. This is just the beginning,” said Jude Hansana, who has been protesting outside the residence since early April. The battle is aimed at wider political reforms that will alleviate the crippling economic crisis in Sri Lanka. Prolonged political instability could delay bailouts between Sri Lanka and the International Monetary Fund, the governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka told Reuters.
Biggest economic crisis since independence
Sri Lanka, which is heavily dependent on tourism, has entered its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948 due to the corona pandemic, high government debt and rising oil prices.
Inflation in the country of 22 million reached 54.6 percent in June and the central bank has warned it could rise to 70 percent in the coming months. Although the government has announced reforms, it has so far been unable to stop the protests.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
