This will be a Govt where all parties are represented, says SLPP leader; protesters pledge to stay put in Prez house till PM and Gotabaya quit

Sri Lanka’s Opposition parties on Sunday decided to form an all-party interim Government after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe agreed to resign in the wake of unprecedented street protests during which both leaders’ houses were stormed by irate protesters over the Government’s mishandling of the nation’s worst economic crisis.

Earlier in the day the anti-Government protesters who stormed Rajapaksa’s official residence claimed to have recovered 17.85 million Sri Lankan Rupees inside his mansion. A video was being shared on social media showing the protesters counting the currency notes that were unearthed. Protesters said they had found 17,850,000 Sri Lankan Rupees at the President’s official residence on Sunday when they stormed into the mansion after breaking the barricades. They have handed over the cash to the local police and vowed not to leave the place till both the leaders resign.

Meanwhile, throughout the day, Opposition parties held talks to seek ways to steer the country forward amidst the unprecedented economic crisis after President Rajapaksa on Saturday informed Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena from an undisclosed location that he will step down on Wednesday.

“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 (SLPP) party’s breakaway group said.

“This will be a Government where all parties are represented,” he said. Vasudeva Nanayakkara, another leader of the SLPP’s breakaway group, said they need not wait for Rajapaksa’s resignation on July 13.

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,” said Ranjith Madduma Bandara, the SJB general secretary.

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.

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.