Colombo: Sri Lankan protests outside President’s Office in Colombo, Sri Lanka
Highlight
- Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed a new cabinet consisting of 17 members.
- PM Mahinda Rajapaksa became the only member of the family to retain the cabinet post.
- All the members of the cabinet had resigned earlier this month except PM Mahinda and President Gotabaya.
As the island nation is facing the worst economic crisis, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed a new cabinet of 17 members. Notably, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa became the only member of the family to retain a cabinet position in the new cabinet of his younger brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The development comes after all members of the Sri Lankan cabinet, except PM Mahinda and President Gotabaya, resigned earlier this month. The resignation was in response to the country’s economic crisis, which led to a nationwide state of emergency and curfew. People took to the streets to condemn the government and protest the long power cuts and shortage of fuel, food and other daily essentials.
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People also demanded the removal of President Rajapaksa. He took oath in the 17-member cabinet on Monday in addition to the three ministers appointed earlier. This meant that there was no room for the oldest member of the family, Chamal Rajapaksa, Mahinda’s son Namal Rajapaksa, both cabinet ministers, and nephew Shashindra who was a minister of state.
Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from the UK in 1948. The economic crisis also triggered political upheaval in the island nation.
People queued for fuel and gas while there were no power cuts during the weekend due to the traditional Sinhalese and Tamil New Year, which returned on Monday. The state power unit said that there will be a power cut for four and a half hours on Monday.
(with PTI inputs)
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