Colombo: Sri Lanka’s beleaguered prime minister came under increased pressure to step down, as staunch allies broke ranks and backed street protests calling for resignations over a worsening economic crisis. Media minister Nalaka Godahewa announced his support for the thousands outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office who are demanding he and other members of his family relinquish power.
Godahewa, previously a staunch Rajapaksa loyalist, said the president should sack his elder brother, PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and allow an all-party interim government to take over. “The entire cabinet, including the prime minister, should resign and (there should be) an interim cabinet that can win the confidence of all,” Godahewa said. Several other ruling party members, including Dullas Alahapperuma, a former media minister and cabinet spokesman, have asked the premier to step down.
Students mob PM’s home
Thousands of student demonstrators surrounded the Sri Lankan PM’s residence in the capital as the anti-government Galle Face protests reached its 16th day and the clamour for the president and PM to resign grew louder. Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) students were seen sloganeering outside the PM’s residence in Wijerama Mawatha, with dozens demonstrating from the parapet and boundary walls of the official residence. The agitators demanded both President Gotabaya and Rajapaksa resign. The slogans ranged from soft jibes to taunts. Thousands of demonstrators have hit the streets since April 9, as the government ran out of money for vital imports; prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed and there are shortages of fuel and medicines.
World Bank aid
Meanwhile, Lanka finance minister Ali Sabri said that the country will receive $300m to $600m from the World Bank over the next four months to buy medicine and other essential items. The finance minister was in Washington to negotiate a rescue package with the International Monetary Fund, said in a video conference that the talks with the IMF might take some time, and that the World Bank has agreed to provide support in the meantime.
Neighboring India has also agreed to provide $500m to buy fuel, and negotiations are under way on an additional $1bn from New Delhi, which has already provided a credit line of $1bn, Sabri said.
Sri Lanka is on the brink of bankruptcy, with nearly $7bn of its total $25bn in foreign debt due for repayment this year. A severe shortage of foreign exchange means the country lacks the money to buy imported goods.
