Colombo: Sri LankaThe U.S.’s new prime minister received significant support from the two main opposition parties on Monday, easing pressure on the ruling Rajapaksa The clan in the face of the island’s worsening economic crisis.
The main opposition SJB party has abandoned its demands that the President Gotabaya Rajapakse Must step down before backing a coalition to manage a crumbling economy.
sjb, or samagi jan balwegayarefused to join the unity government led by the new prime minister Ranil WickremesingheBut said it would “unconditionally support positive efforts to revive the economy”.
“It is important to save the country from a serious economic crisis,” it said in a brief statement.
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the second largest opposition party, said it would join the cabinet.
Still, thousands of protesters were camping outside the sea-facing office of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 73, whose brother Mahinda stepped down as prime minister last week, demanding his resignation in return.
In the worst financial crisis since independence from Britain in 1948, record inflation and prolonged blackouts coupled with shortages of food, fuel and medicines have led to severe hardships for the country’s 22 million people.
Last week’s appointment of Wickremesinghe – his sixth turn as prime minister – has so far failed to quell public anger at the government for pushing Sri Lanka to the brink of economic collapse.
Soldiers patrolled the streets as consumers queued for scarce supplies and the government announced a six-hour night curfew would be reimposed from Monday after a 24-hour break.
Curfew was relaxed on Sunday, the first day of the two-day holiday vesakanniversary of BuddhaBirth, knowledge and death.
– Dollar crunch – Wickremesinghe has struggled to form a “unity government” and a cabinet swearing-in scheduled for Monday afternoon was pushed back as talks on sharing portfolios continued.
Four ministers took oath on Saturday, all from Rajapaksa’s Sri Lanka Podu go peramuna (SLPP) party.
But there is no finance minister yet, and it is widely expected that Wickremesinghe will retain the crucial portfolio to lead ongoing talks with the IMF for an immediate bailout.
His office said the new prime minister has called for international support and was due to address the nation on Monday to outline his economic revival plan.
He chatted with on Sunday world Bank and representatives of the Asian Development Bank in Colombo on medicine, food, fuel and fertilizer supplies, his office said in a statement.
“The government is faced with an urgent challenge of securing funds to pay for the fuel requirement for this coming week,” it said, adding that the government was “exploring other options” due to the shortage of dollars in banks. is”.
Long queues were seen outside some fuel stations which were also open on Monday as motorists waited for rationed petrol.
Heavy armed forces were still patrolling the streets with a state of emergency in place after violence killed at least nine people last week.
Police said over 350 people have been arrested in connection with the mob violence last week.
The main opposition SJB party has abandoned its demands that the President Gotabaya Rajapakse Must step down before backing a coalition to manage a crumbling economy.
sjb, or samagi jan balwegayarefused to join the unity government led by the new prime minister Ranil WickremesingheBut said it would “unconditionally support positive efforts to revive the economy”.
“It is important to save the country from a serious economic crisis,” it said in a brief statement.
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the second largest opposition party, said it would join the cabinet.
Still, thousands of protesters were camping outside the sea-facing office of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 73, whose brother Mahinda stepped down as prime minister last week, demanding his resignation in return.
In the worst financial crisis since independence from Britain in 1948, record inflation and prolonged blackouts coupled with shortages of food, fuel and medicines have led to severe hardships for the country’s 22 million people.
Last week’s appointment of Wickremesinghe – his sixth turn as prime minister – has so far failed to quell public anger at the government for pushing Sri Lanka to the brink of economic collapse.
Soldiers patrolled the streets as consumers queued for scarce supplies and the government announced a six-hour night curfew would be reimposed from Monday after a 24-hour break.
Curfew was relaxed on Sunday, the first day of the two-day holiday vesakanniversary of BuddhaBirth, knowledge and death.
– Dollar crunch – Wickremesinghe has struggled to form a “unity government” and a cabinet swearing-in scheduled for Monday afternoon was pushed back as talks on sharing portfolios continued.
Four ministers took oath on Saturday, all from Rajapaksa’s Sri Lanka Podu go peramuna (SLPP) party.
But there is no finance minister yet, and it is widely expected that Wickremesinghe will retain the crucial portfolio to lead ongoing talks with the IMF for an immediate bailout.
His office said the new prime minister has called for international support and was due to address the nation on Monday to outline his economic revival plan.
He chatted with on Sunday world Bank and representatives of the Asian Development Bank in Colombo on medicine, food, fuel and fertilizer supplies, his office said in a statement.
“The government is faced with an urgent challenge of securing funds to pay for the fuel requirement for this coming week,” it said, adding that the government was “exploring other options” due to the shortage of dollars in banks. is”.
Long queues were seen outside some fuel stations which were also open on Monday as motorists waited for rationed petrol.
Heavy armed forces were still patrolling the streets with a state of emergency in place after violence killed at least nine people last week.
Police said over 350 people have been arrested in connection with the mob violence last week.