On Monday, Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as Sri Lankan Prime Minister. In a statement, his office said he was quitting in order to help form an interim, unity government, following weeks of widespread protests across the country.
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday announced that he will appoint new Prime Minister and a cabinet this week to ensure political stability as he addressed the nation amid violent anti-government protests across the country which is grappling with its worst economic crisis.
In his address, the embattled Sri Lankan President also said that he is ready to abolish the executive presidency once the country stabilises.
He further announced that a constitutional amendment will be moved in the Parliament to enact the content of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which will empower the House with more powers.
“I will appoint a young cabinet without any of the Rajapaksas. The new government’s Prime Minister will be awarded the opportunity to produce a new program and take this country forward,” Gotabaya said.
On Monday, Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as Sri Lankan Prime Minister, making way to form an all party interim government. In a statement, his office said he was quitting in order to help form an interim, unity government, following weeks of widespread protests across the country.
He took the decision days after his younger brother Gotbaya Rajapaksa in a special meeting requested him to step down from power as a solution to the ongoing political crisis in the country. The move came amid mounting pressure on the embattled government to form an interim administration to overcome the unprecedented economic turmoil facing the island nation.
