Huge crowds had surrounded Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s home to demand his resignation, blaming government mismanagement for the painful downturn.
Later in the day, Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is willing to resign to make way for an all-party governtment, his office said in a statement on Saturday.
The statement follows intensifying anti-government protests.
Mr. Wickremesinghe told party leaders he was taking the decision to step down in view of the fact that island-wide fuel distribution is due to recommence this week, the World Food Programme Director is due to visit the country this week and the debt sustainability report for the IMF is due to be finalised shortly.
So as to ensure the safety of the citizens, the prime minister said he is agreeable to this recommendation by the Opposition party leaders.
According to a source, the president was escorted to safety,and is being protected by a military unit.
As protesters thronged Galle Face, Colombo, and some even occupied the Presidential Secretariat, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held initial discussions with several party leaders. All party leaders are scheduled to meet shortly at a meeting organised by the Speaker of Parliament to decide on the steps to be taken to resolve the situation in the country. Mr. Wickremesinghe would assume the presidency in the event of Mr. Rajapaksa’s resignation.
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