Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appears to have the support of his Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) as he faces protests over the handling of the ongoing economic crisis.
On Wednesday, chief government whip Johnston Fernando informed Parliament that the Gotabaya government would face the ongoing crisis. Gotabaya has been facing calls to step down for the policy decisions that allegedly precipitated Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis.
Fernando, who is highways minister, told Parliament “As a responsible government, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will not resign... under any circumstances,” Daily Mirror reported.
Fernando said Gotabaya was elected following a mandate from 6.9 million people. According to Colombo Page, Fernando blamed the opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) for fomenting violent protests. Fernando argued “thug politics” should not be allowed.
The JVP had rejected the invitation by Gotabaya to all parties to take up posts in an interim government. JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told mediapersons on Monday Gotabaya had lost the mandate of the people.