New Delhi: The Sri Lankan Opposition on Monday renewed its call for bigger protests against the government, deriding the Cabinet’s en masse resignation as nothing but “melodrama”.
Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa said, “This melodrama is being enacted to dupe the people of the country. This is not a genuine effort towards bringing relief to the people of our country. It’s an exercise in fooling the people.”
Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers – but not the Prime Minister — resigned with immediate effect late on Sunday night, as the country experienced its worst economic crisis of all time. The Cabinet did not give any reason for this sudden move.
Street protests rocked Capital Colombo in the last few days in defiance of a state of emergency declared on 31 March after an angry mob surrounded the private residence of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Premadasa said the Opposition would not tone down protests. “Our demands are the demands of the people. We are there to protect the lives of the people of our motherland.”
He accused the government of “depriving people of the right to live, to enjoy their economic, political, cultural, religious, civic and other freedoms”.
Premadasa said the whole country was calling for a “wholesale change”. “What we ask for is a pathbreaking wholesale change that brings relief to the country, not relief to politicians. This is not a game of musical chairs where politicians exchange their position,” he said.
Sri Lankan ministers have come under intense pressure from the public over the government’s alleged “mishandling” of the economic crisis, triggered by the shortage in the foreign exchange reserve.
Though curfew was lifted Monday, the country remains in a state of emergency.
Also read: Sri Lankan Cabinet resigns with immediate effect as country faces worst economic crisis ever