Crisis-hit anti-government rallies in Sri Lanka grew despite curfews, Sri Lanka’s cabinet resigned en masse from their positions at a late-night meeting Sunday, the education minister claimed.
Apart from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his elder brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, all 26 ministers resigned, according to education minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
“All of the ministers have submitted their letters of resignation so that the president can form a new government,” Gunawardena said, adding that the decision was reached following a discussion about the deteriorating economic crisis.
Three more members of the influential Rajapaksa family have resigned amid rising public outrage over severe food, fuel, and medicine shortages affecting the 22-million-strong South Asian nation.
Basil Rajapaksa, the youngest Rajapaksa brother and finance minister, and Chamal Rajapaksa, the eldest brother and agricultural minister, as well as the family’s scion Namal Rajapaksa, the sports minister, all resigned.
Thousands of people disobeyed a weekend curfew on Sunday to demonstrate across the island, demanding the Rajapaksa family’s removal from power, which they reclaimed in November 2019.
I have informed the sec. to the President of my resignation from all portfolios with immediate effect, in hope that it may assist HE & PMs decision to establish stability for the people & the govt of #LKA. I remain committed to my voters, my party & the people of #Hambanthota.
— Namal Rajapaksa (@RajapaksaNamal) April 3, 2022
