Despite countrywide protests amid a shortage of essentials and pressures from unions and business lobbies, the Sri Lankan government has failed to break the political deadlock as the island country continues to suffer from its worst economic crisis in decades. The primary reason remains the reluctance of both Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to resign.

On Friday, in a statement, the Media Division of the President's Office said the president has extended an invitation to leaders of all parties to discuss the proposal to form a national unity government and a national council comprising leaders from all parties. However, similar efforts in the past few weeks back have failed to find any solution.

A day earlier on Thursday, President Rajapaksa, who himself is facing growing calls to resign, had reportedly told a group of lawmakers that he had no intention to seek the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, putting an end to growing speculation of widening differences between the two brothers.

To coordinate the views and mechanisms with the help of political parties, the government has also decided to form a five-member committee in order to form an all-party government.

However, when asked for clarity on his statement his office said he was, in principle, willing to form an all-party government with the political parties represented in Parliament following the resignation of the prime minister and the cabinet of ministers, reported The Morning.

For protesters, whose agitation in front of the Presidential Secretariat has now completed almost three weeks, the resignation of the two brothers remains non-negotiable, a demand also backed by the SJB, the country’s main opposition party.

Earlier on Thursday, an 11-member-group of independent lawmakers, who recently broke ranks with the government, met Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay in the capital Colombo and expressed gratitude for India's support. The same group had also met the Chinese ambassador earlier this week. On Friday, India donated another batch of essential medicines and medical equipment to Sri Lanka.

So far, New Delhi has extended assistance worth over $2.4 billion, including lines of credit for $1.5 billion and others in the form of deferment of loan repayment. Reports suggest Colombo has been seeking another $2 billion before it could finalize an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout package.
Business leaders and chambers have also urged the government to break the political impasse as it was hurting the already struggling economy. (SAM)