Sri Lanka's largest opposition party rejected an invitation from the president on Monday to form a unity government, as protests continued throughout the country over its worst economic crisis in memory and deepening mistrust in his leadership.
All 26 Cabinet ministers handed in their resignations Sunday night after thousands of people defied a countrywide state of emergency and curfew and joined street protests denouncing the government.
Two other brothers, Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa, were among those who resigned, along with the prime minister's son, Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa. Those resignations were seen as an effort to pacify public anger at the Rajapaksas while retaining executive, defense and law-making powers in the family.
SJB has 54 lawmakers in the 225-member Parliament. Its rejection of the president's request is likely to lead to continued uncertainty and protests, which were held throughout the country on Monday. The top official in the Central Bank, who has been accused of economic mismanagement, also resigned on Monday.
"In this country it is so difficult," said Inoma Fazil, a fashion designer who brought her 18-month-old daughter to a protest in the Colombo suburb of Rajagiriya on Sunday. "We don't want to leave the country and go, and we want to give our child a good future, but everyone is stealing our money. So we came here for her and the rest of the children."
For several months, Sri Lankans have endured long lines to buy fuel, cooking gas, foods and medicines, most of which comes from abroad and is paid for in hard currency. The fuel shortage has caused rolling power cuts lasting several hours a day.
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