Sri Lankan president to appoint new PM, cabinet this week

Sri Lanka’s beleaguered President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said on Wednesday he would appoint a new prime minister and a cabinet this week to introduce constitutional reforms amid widespread anti-government protests over the country’s worst economic crisis.

In an address to the nation, President Gotabaya also said that after the appointment of the new prime minister, a constitutional amendment would be brought in for the government to enact the contents of the 19th amendment to the constitution, which would provide Parliament with more powers. Will do

“I will appoint a youth cabinet without Rajapaksa,” Gotabaya said, starting talks with political parties to prevent the country from heading towards anarchy.

“The prime minister of the new government will be given an opportunity to formulate a new program and take this country forward,” he said.

Sri Lanka has no government for the past two days after President Gotabaya’s elder brother and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned, paving the way for an all-party interim government.

The President is constitutionally empowered to run the country without a cabinet.

Speaking on the violence in the country earlier this week, he said that what happened on May 9 was very unfortunate.

“The series of heinous acts of murder, assault, intimidation, destruction of property and that followed cannot be justified at all,” the president said.

Gotabaya said that the Inspector General of Police has been directed to conduct the investigation.

He also said that the Sri Lanka Police and the three armed forces have been ordered to strictly enforce the law against the perpetrators of violence.

Urging everyone to maintain peace, Gotabaya said, “Steps will be taken to strictly enforce the law against those who have planned, assisted, promoted and linked these events.”

Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from Britain in 1948. The crisis is partly due to a lack of foreign exchange, meaning the country cannot pay for imports of staple foods and fuels, leading to an acute economic crisis. Scarcity and very high prices.

Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets across Sri Lanka since April 9 to demand the resignation of President Gotabaya and his brother Mahinda, as the government had no money for vital imports; The prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed and there is a severe shortage in the supply of fuel, medicines and electricity.

Originally published at Pen 18