Final Announcement of PM's resignation!?
PM Mahinda Rajapaksa's resignation, economic crisis-riot, now what will happen next in Sri Lanka?
The entire Mahinda Rajapaksa cabinet can resign one by one, now who will be the next PM of Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka's prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has finally resigned from his post amid mounting pressure at a time when the country is facing the worst economic crisis in its history. According to the PTI report, apart from PM Rajapaksa, at least two cabinet ministers have also resigned. It is believed that the entire Mahinda Rajapakse cabinet is going to resign one by one.
Mahinda Rajapaksa's decision came hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office.
Mahinda Rajapaksa's spokesman, Rohan Velivita, said that it was a "new coalition government" suggested by the president to fight the country's worst economic crisis since independence from british rule in 1948, Aljazeera reported. For this, the PM has sent his resignation.
MP Maithripala Sirisena had informed the media after a meeting with the President that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said that a National Council will be appointed to name a new prime minister and the cabinet will include all party's MPs.
In such a situation, it is believed that after the resignation of Mahinda Rajapaksa and his cabinet, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will run the interim government and will appoint the National Council to choose the new PM. However, how much time the transfer of power from the interim government to the new government will take place, the doubt remains.
Mahinda Rajapaksa himself has served two terms each as prime minister and President of Sri Lanka. He is the PM of the country since 2019 and before that from 2005 to 2015 also served as PM.
Sri Lanka is going through an economic downturn of an unprecedented scale for the first time since the 1948 financial crisis. Prices of essential commodities like rice, milk, and oil have skyrocketed, resulting in massive nationwide protests and political instability.
Sri Lanka has approached the international Monetary Fund (IMF) for help (bailout) and a virtual summit is to begin on monday itself with the authorities for emergency assistance.