The country has been facing severe shortages of food, fuel and other essentials — along with record inflation and crippling power cuts these days. The inaction of the government has forced people to come out on roads to hold mass agitation against President Rajapaksa and his ruling government.
Colombo: Amid massive protests against Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his government all over the country, the ruling coalition on Tuesday lost its majority in the parliament as at least 41 lawmakers from the ruling alliance reportedly walked out from the ruling coalition.
Opposition parties, which have held the Rajapaksa government responsible for the worst ever economic downturn in the island nation, had on Monday declined the president’s proposal to join the proposed unity government as a “sham”. The opposition had termed the move ‘nonsensical’ and had mounted pressure on the President to submit his resignation over the country’s worsening shortages of food, fuel and medicines.
According to the reports, Finance Minister, Ali Sabry, resigned just a day after assuming the office. His resignation came in the backdrop of extreme pressure and unrest from Sri Lankan people. On Monday, Rajapaksa had appointed four new ministers in his cabinet and Ali Sabry was one of them.
Deputy Parliament Speaker Ranjith Siyambalapitiya has reportedly submitted his resignation as the Parliament reconvened on Tuesday for the first time after the state of emergency was declared in the country. The country’s central bank governor Ajith Cabraal had resigned on Monday hours after the Rajpaksa cabinet decided to quit paving the way for a new administration to handle the ongoing economic crisis. All 26 ministers aside from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his elder brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had stepped down on Sunday night.
As Sri Lanka has been grappling due to protests and anger of the people, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that it has been keeping close watch on political and economic developments in the country.
The country has been facing severe shortages of food, fuel and other essentials – along with record inflation and crippling power cuts these days. The inaction of the government has forced people to come out on roads to hold mass agitation against President Rajapaksa and his ruling government. Rajapaksa government and his family are being accused of mishandling the situation.
