Sri Lanka’s party leaders, who gathered on Saturday in connection with massive popular protests in the country, called on President Gotabay Rajapaksa to resign.
Earlier, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held an emergency meeting of party leaders in response to ongoing protests in the capital, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
In turn, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said he was ready to obey any decision taken at a meeting of the country’s party leaders.
Thousands of demonstrators flooded the capital of Sri Lanka. Instead of the planned peaceful march, the demonstrators broke through the police barriers and seized the presidential palace. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was reportedly evacuated shortly before protesters besieged his home.
At least 33 people were injured in the protests, including two police officers, according to doctors.
Sri Lanka is experiencing its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948. The coronavirus has hit the tourism sector, which is a major source of foreign exchange, leaving Sri Lanka unable to buy enough fuel.
The country lacks food, basic necessities, medicines and gas. Many parts of Sri Lanka are also facing constant power outages due to lack of fuel. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s external debt is estimated at $51 billion.
Source: RIA Novosti