Colombo (TIP): Amid rising protests in Sri Lanka over the unprecedented economic crisis, Prime Minister MahindaRajapaksa on Wednesday offered to hold talks with the agitators who are demanding resignation of President GotabayaRajapaksa and all members of his family from the government. The protests entered its fifth day on April 13 and since it began on Saturday, it was carried out round the clock by youths demanding a total transformation of the “corrupt political culture”, which they claim has been prevailing in the island nation since it gained independence from Britain in 1948.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Rajapaksa is willing to hold discussions with the protesting youths who are camping at Galle Face esplanade located near President Gotabaya’s secretariat.

The Prime Minister has said if the protesters are ready for talks, he would extend an invitation for their representatives to meet for discussions, the statement noted.

The youths are demanding that President Gotabaya and his entire family—who are all part of the government—should quit, while their alleged ill-gotten wealth be brought back to the country to pay the debt.

Prime Minister Mahinda is the elder brother of President Gotabaya. Basil, the youngest, was holding the finance portfolio till he was sacked earlier this month by the president amidst the economic crisis. The eldest brother, Chamal, controls the agriculture ministry and nephew Namal is the sports minister.

The protest campaign has been running on social media, urging youths to gather at Galle Face. Besides, there have been continuing protests across the island, blaming the government for its mishandling of the forex crisis which led to severe shortages of essentials.

President Gotabaya who got his ministers to resign as a response to public dissatisfaction failed to win support for his call on the Opposition parties to join a unity Cabinet.

The main Opposition, meanwhile, announced that its leader SajithPremadasa has signed three motions which would soon be tabled in Parliament—a motion of no trust, an impeachment motion against President Gotabaya and a motion to repeal 20 amendments which had given him absolute power as president in 2020.

MaithripalaSirisena, the former president and a member of the ruling partner Sri Lanka PodujanaPeramuna (SLPP), told reporters Tuesday night that they would no longer attend political talks with the government.

They had proposed an 11-point plan, including the formation of an all-party interim government, to overcome the current political impasse.

Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from the UK in 1948. People have been protesting for weeks over lengthy power cuts and shortage of fuel, food and other daily essentials.

President Gotabaya has defended his government’s actions, saying the foreign exchange crisis was not his making and the economic downturn was largely pandemic driven by the island nation’s tourism revenue and inward remittances waning.(PTI)