Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has suffered a major setback. He lost his majority in Parliament on Tuesday amid the ongoing economic crisis in the country. Several of Gotabaya’s aides have deserted him and demanded his resignation.
Sri Lanka is facing its biggest economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. Apart from record inflation and power cuts, the people of Sri Lanka are also facing acute shortage of food, petrol and diesel and other essential items.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa until a few days ago was seen as a powerful leader in the country, whose government had a strong majority. However, in the last few days, his government is now under threat due to continuous leaving with his allies. On Tuesday, his new finance minister also resigned, just a day after he took over.
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Meanwhile, in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo and other cities, people are taking to the streets in large numbers to protest. Protesters have also tried to surround the homes of several ministers and parliamentarians of the Sri Lankan government.
Independent MP Vijayadasa Rajapaksa, who broke away from Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s party, said, “If we do not wake up now, rivers of blood will flow in the country. I support the demand of the opposition and demand the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.” ” “We have to rise above party politics at this time and form an interim government in the country,” he said.
So far several dozen MPs have withdrawn their support to Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government. In this, 16 MPs are members of Rajapaksa’s party SLPP.
The Parliament of Sri Lanka consists of a total of 225 members. Gotabaya Rajapaksa now has 5 MPs less than the required number for a majority. However, it is not yet clear whether the opposition will bring a no-confidence motion against Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The opposition is still adamant on the demand for the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa has invited the opposition to join a joint government led by him and his brother and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahindra Rajapaksa as part of efforts to save his government. However, the opposition rejected his demand and asked him to resign immediately.