Rs 17.85 mn in Rajapaksa’s house! Protesters fume

Colombo: Was embattled Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa minting the millions while his fellow Sri Lankans battled a series of crises including crippling food, fuel, power and gas shortages? The question arose after anti-government protesters in Sri Lanka who stormed President Gotabaya’s official residence on Sunday, claimed to have recovered 17.85 million Sri Lankan Rupees inside his mansion.

A video went viral on social media showing the protesters counting currency notes that were unearthed. They claimed to have found 17,850,000 Sri Lankan Rupees at the residence and have handed over the cash to the local police.

Hundreds of anti-government protesters had on Saturday stormed Rajapaksa’s residence in central Colombo’s Fort area after breaking the barricades, as they demanded his resignation over the island nation’s worst economic crisis in recent memory.

Another group of protesters entered the private residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and set it on fire. The President’s whereabouts are still not known.

***

Lanka agrees to all-party interim government

Colombo: Sri Lanka’s main Opposition parties on Sunday agreed to form an all-party interim government after the anticipated resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday, following unprecedented political turmoil that forced him and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to offer their resignations over the mishandling of the nation’s crippling economic crisis.

Opposition parties held talks to seek ways to steer the country forward in the current unprecedented economic crisis after Rajapaksa’s resignation. “We agreed in principle to form a government of unity with all parties participation for an interim period,” Wimal Weerawansa of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party’s breakaway group said.

“This will be a government where all parties are represented,” he said. Vasudeva Nanayakkara, another leader of the SLPP breakaway group said they need not wait for Rajapaksa’s resignation on July 13.,President Rajapaksa informed Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Saturday that he will resign on Wednesday after the country’s opposition parties demanded his resignation. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has also offered to resign.

The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya party said they held extensive internal discussions. “We aim for an interim government of all parties for a limited period and then go for a parliamentary election,” Ranjith Madduma Bandara, the SJB general secretary said.

The leaders of political parties represented in Parliament are to meet on Monday afternoon to discuss the convening of the House for the transition of power for a new government after Rajapaksa said he will resign. Speaker Abeywardena conveyed to Rajapaksa on Saturday that Opposition party leaders want him to resign after anti-government protesters stormed his offices and the official residence. —PTI