Five Sri Lanka ministers quit after president, PM offer resignation

ECONOMYNEXT – Five Sri Lankan Cabinet Ministers have announced their resignation after a protest by tens of thousands of people forced president Gotabaya and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to offer resignation in a move that could lead the crisis-hit country to longer political instability.

Bandula Gunawardana, the minister of Transport, Highways, and Mass Media announced his resignation soon after protesters stormed into President’s official residence on Saturday (09). He also announced that he will quit from Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) led by former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Later Tourism and Land Minister Harin Fernando and Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, both who crossed from the main opposition to join the government, also resigned from the portfolio.

On Sunday, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera and Investment Promotion Minister Dhammika Perera also announced their resignation.

The protesters have demanded all the ministers to resign. The demand comes nearly two months after the new government was formed. However, the protesters as well as general public saw no progress in addressing their basic requirements like fuel, cooking gas, and kerosene oil.

President Rajapaksa has indirectly informed that he will resign on July 13 while Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has said he will resign once an all-party government is in power.

Prime Minister’s resignation will anyway pave the way for the resignation of entire cabinet.

Political sources said more ministers are considering resignation before the prime minister’s resignation. (Colombo/July 10/2022)