Sri Lanka's embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday convened a meeting of political parties on April 29 to discuss the possible formation of an all-party Government to end the protracted political impasse in the country, amidst mounting pressure on Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to resign to and make way for an interim Government. A letter to all party leaders in ruling coalition said government was in agreement to form an all-party government comprising parties represented in Parliament, according to a statement. The meeting has been fixed for April 29 to discuss new arrangement after resignation of prime minister Mahida Rajapaksa, it said. This comes in the background of pressure mounted within ruling coalition on prime minister to resign to make way for an interim government.
However, the statement from president is in contrast to position taken by his elder brother and the country's Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has said he will not resign and any interim government can be formed only under his leadership.
Both the President and Prime Minister are under mounting pressure from fierce public protests demanding his resignation for mishandling the country's worst economic crisis. Debt-ridden Sri Lanka is grappling with an unprecedented economic turmoil since its independence from Britain in 1948. The crisis is caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which has meant that country cannot afford to pay for imports of staple foods and fuel, leading to acute shortages and very high prices.
Sri Lankan election commission on Tuesday urged all political parties to come together to form an all-party government or a similar body to end political impasse prevailing in the country.
President Rajapaksa is coming under pressure to set up an interim administration as an immediate step to resolve economic and political turmoil in country. Mass anti-government protests demanding resignation of entire Rajapaksa family have been going on for more than two weeks. The public is being made to wait in long lines for fuel and cooking gas amid power cuts. In recent weeks, prominent businesses and other professional organisations have repeated call for an interim government. A senior Buddhist monk claimed on Monday that President Rajapaksa had agreed to form an interim government to tackle unprecedented economic crisis.
Rajapaksa has said his offer for the opposition parties to join him in a unity government did not yield any results and therefore he was compelled to form a cabinet of his own.
The ongoing street protest opposite presidential secretariat entered its 9th day on Wednesday. The protests are now also being held opposite residence-cum-office of prime minister.The country's trade unions threatened on Wednesday that they will boycott work from Thursday in solidarity with stir that call for resignation of Rajapaksa family.