Protesters in Colombo. File photoNEW DELHI, Jul 10Sri Lanka's main opposition parties have agreed to form an all-party interim government, the Deccan Herald reported. Veravansa.
More than 17.8 million rupees were found in the house of the President of Sri LankaIn turn, Secretary General of the main opposition party «United People's Power» Ranjit Madduma Bandara noted that extensive internal discussions took place there.
"We are seeking an interim government of all parties for a limited period, and then we are going to parliamentary elections", the politician said.
Leaders of political parties represented in Parliament are due to meet on Monday afternoon to discuss convening a House of Representatives to hand over power to a new government after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced he would step down. Protests by the thousands swept the Sri Lankan capital the day before. Instead of the planned peaceful march, the protesters broke through the police cordons and seized the palace of the head of state. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa himself was evacuated and, according to media reports, could have left Sri Lanka by plane. According to doctors, at least 100 people were injured as a result of the protests, including police officers and journalists.In Sri Lanka, three suspects of setting fire to the prime minister's house were detainedThe leaders of political parties at an emergency meeting called on the president and prime minister to resign, appoint the speaker of parliament as interim president, elect a new head of state from members of parliament within 30 days, and also appoint an interim all-party government and hold elections are coming soon. Later, the speaker of parliament said that the president would resign on July 13, and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe agreed to resign, but, as his press service clarified, he would do so only after the formation of a new government, consisting of all parties in the country, and after how a majority in parliament will be secured. Sri Lanka is experiencing its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948. The coronavirus pandemic has hit the tourism sector, a key source of foreign exchange, leaving Sri Lanka unable to buy enough fuel. There is a shortage of food, basic necessities, medicines and gas in the country. Many parts of Sri Lanka are facing constant power outages due to lack of fuel. At the same time, the external debt of the island nation is estimated at $51 billion.