Desk Report
Published: 07 Apr 2022, 12:38 pm
Protesters again took to the streets on Tuesday after President Rajapaksa lost key supporters in parliament || Photo: Collected
Sri Lanka's beleaguered president
will not be resigning, his government's whip has told parliament.
The declaration defies calls from
the public and political opponents for Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down amid the
country's economic crisis.
Crowds have protested for weeks
over lengthy power cuts and shortages of gas, food, and other basic goods.
The public anger has prompted
nearly all Cabinet ministers to quit, and scores of MPs to leave his
government.
Opposition MPs have also rejected
his invitation to form a national unity government, saying voters want the
president and entire government to resign.
But on Wednesday, Chief
Government Whip Johnston Fernando told lawmakers: "As a responsible
Government, we state President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will not resign from his post
under any circumstances."