A day after the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government declared an emergency and imposed a curfew, a political crisis is in the making in Sri Lanka, even as people are on the streets protesting against the economic crisis in the country.
In a letter to the President Gotabaya, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), on Sunday, called for setting up of a caretaker government within a week. SLFP, with 14 MPs, is the largest group within the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) ruling coalition.
SLFP general secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera said if this demand is not met, they will resign and function as an independent group in Parliament.
Meanwhile, report of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa submitting his resignation to his brother President Gotabaya made rounds on Sunday. However, the report were denied by Mahinda's office. Mahinda, the face of SLPP, is considered a strongman, who has the support of the Sinhala majority. While people have been demanding Gotabaya to go, false reports of Mahinda's resignation has come in as a surprise.
In another political development, former minister Wimal Weerawansa said he, along with former minister Udaya Gammanpila, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, and Tiran Alles, met President Gotabaya and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Weerawansa forwarded proposal for a caretaker cabinet, representing all political parties in parliament, for the interim administration, which also includes the appointment of a new prime minister.
Meanwhile, a 53-year old man killed himself in front Gotabaya's house at Mirihana demanding that the long power cuts come to an end.
There have been protests in various parts of the country. Defying the curfew, people took streets on Sunday, demanding resignation of Gotabayas.
Sri Lanka is currently experiencing its worst economic crisis in history. With long lines for fuel, cooking gas, essentials in short supply and long hours of power cuts the public has been suffering for weeks.
