Opposition calls for removing of Rajapaksas from govt as Sri Lanka disaster unfolds | Exclusive

As the financial disaster in Sri Lanka deepens, opposition events are demanding the removing of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and different members of his household from the federal government. Mano Ganesan, chief of Tamil Progressive Alliance, on Saturday blamed the Rajapaksa household for the nation’s present state of affairs.

“Most of the cabinet portfolios are shared between the Rajapaksa family. In the budget also, around 80-84 per cent allocation is given to these ministers only,” Ganesan mentioned, as Colombo reels beneath meals and gas shortages.

In an unique interview with India Today, Ganesan mentioned former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa dominated Sri Lanka from 2005 and nonetheless did not win over its folks after the civil struggle.

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Mahinda is adored by the Sinhala-Buddhist majority for crushing separatist Tamil rebels in May 2009, following a brutal army offensive that ended a decades-long civil struggle.

“Mahinda Rajapaksa ruled this country from 2005. After the war got over, he failed to win the minds and hearts of the people of this country,” he mentioned.

“They took loans from China and other countries and used those loans for unprofitable avenues,” he added.

Mohamed Mujibur Rahman of the United National Party echoed the identical sentiments when he blamed the flawed coverage selections of subsequent governments for the present financial disaster.

“People are suffering without gas, electricity, petrol and all the other essential items. The present govt and the president created this crisis because of their wrong policy decisions. The president must resign along with the government,” Rahman mentioned.

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Mahinda’s most important man and present president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, declared a state of emergency after a day of violent protests exterior his residence. As police officers and protesters clashed, Sri Lanka authorities imposed a 36-hour curfew to curb extra protests over meals, gas and energy shortages.

Several folks had been injured and automobiles had been set on fireplace because the agitation turned violent on Friday. An announcement issued by the federal government mentioned an ‘extremist group’ was behind the unrest close to President Rajapaksa’s residence in Mirihana.