President Rajapaksa will not resign: Johnston Fernando

In Srilanka, Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando informed Parliament yesterday that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will not resign under any circumstances and the government will face the present crisis. According to media, Mr. Johnston said, the President was elected following a mandate given to him people. 

The declaration defies calls from the public and political opponents for Gotabaya Rajapaksa



to step down amid the country's economic crisis. Crowds have protested for weeks over power cuts and shortages of gas, food and other basic goods.

The public anger has prompted nearly all Cabinet ministers to quit, and scores of MPs to leave his government.

Opposition MPs have rejected Gotabaya's invite to form a national unity government.