Sri Lanka’s Opposition leaders have asked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to quit ahead of the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who has promised to step down on Wednesday, according to a media report. President Rajapaksa is likely to leave for Singapore later on Wednesday, the Daily Mirror reported, citing sources in the Maldives. He is likely to send his resignation letter only after reaching his final destination on Wednesday evening, Sri Lanka’s The Morning news portal reported, citing highly placed Government sources.
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP MA Sumanthiran said on Wednesday that the decision was taken at an all-party meeting which was attended by leaders excluding those from the Government, News 1st channel reported. He said two unanimous decisions were taken at the meeting, and one was for Wickremesinghe to resign immediately, while the other was for the Speaker to sack the Prime Minister before the President’s resignation takes effect, the channel reported. Meanwhile, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella from the Samagi Jana Balavegaya said the Commanders of the three-armed forces were also present at the meeting.
“The Prime Minister was avoiding the party leaders,” he said. The Commanders informed that the protesters were near the gates of Parliament, and wanted permission to repel them by using force, he said. “We said we cannot agree to such a request,” he said, adding that at the last party leaders meeting the call was for the President and the Prime Minister to resign.
The leaders have asked the Speaker to sack Wickremesinghe to take up the post of Acting President, and thereafter Parliament is prepared to work with him. Wickremesinghe on Wednesday asked Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to nominate a Prime Minister who is acceptable to both the government and the Opposition.
In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said that Wickremesinghe held a meeting with the Members of the Cabinet at his office. All the Ministers were of the opinion that as soon as there is an agreement to form an all-party Government, they will hand over the responsibilities to that Government.