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Amid the growing public agitation with protests continuing for the ninth day occupying the entrance to his office, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed a new Cabinet on Monday, 18 April.
Apart from the President and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, no Rajapaksa family member was included to the new Cabinet in contrast to four Rajapaksas, Mahinda's son, Namal, young brother Basil and elder brother Chamal, and his son Shashindara who had held important ministries in the previous Cabinet.
Amid major financial crisis without some of the basic needs such as fuel, electricity, food and medicine, Sri Lanka has been in agitation since 31 March.
A major protest started on 2 April blocking the entrance to the president's office at the iconic city square facing the Indian Ocean continued for the ninth day and President Rajapaksa was forced to relocate his office.
As anti-government protests spread, defying curfew and social media ban on 3 April, the former Cabinet with 26-ministers en masse resigned from their positions.
With shortages in forex reserves, Sri Lanka has been unable to pay for almost all imports, including fuel for power generation leading to hours-long daily power cuts and a major breakdown in the transport system.
On Sunday, a team including the finance minister left for the IMF to secure at least $4 billion to import essentials and pay creditors.
Since January, India has helped Sri Lanka with nearly $2.5 billion financial assistance in food, fuel, and medicines. According to reports, the Indian ocean island nation has requested for further $2 billion from its immediate neighbour, to which New Delhi has responded positively.
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