A day after the cabinet resigned en masse in crisis-hit Sri Lanka, the political deadlock continues, as embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa rejected the calls for his resignation, but added he was ready to hand over the government to whoever commands a majority in the 225-membered Parliament.  

Despite the mass resignation of the cabinet members and President Gotabaya making an offer to all political parties to join the government, opposition parties have rejected the offer, with most demanding the Rajapaksas quit the government. 

Meanwhile, the ruling coalition, which came to power with a two-thirds majority, is cracking from within. Around 42 lawmakers from the ruling coalition distanced themselves from the government and decided to sit independently on Tuesday in the session in Parliament, reported Daily Mirror.

Faced with an unprecedented crisis and the public anger fueled by it, President Goatabya on Monday had invited opposition parties to join the government, in an attempt to work jointly to address the country’s economic crisis. The plan, however, fell through as opposition reminded him that the key public demand: the Rajapaksas must quit the government. 

“Considering this a national need, the time has come to work together for the sake of all the citizens and future generations. The President invites all political parties representing in the Parliament to come together to accept ministerial portfolios in order to find solutions to this national crisis,” The Office of the President said in a statement.

Samagi Jana Balawrgaya (SJB), the main opposition party, said their members will not join the government under the Rajapaksas. SJB leader Sajith Premadasa told The Hindu that they will only come to power only through elections, not by any political deal.

Speaking in Parliament, Premadasa on Tuesday calls for abolishing the executive presidency and added a bill regarding it should come in the House this week. The United People’s Front, the party led by former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, has also rejected the offer, suggesting the crisis needed a parliamentary response. 

Meanwhile, there has been no let-up in protests across the country, chanting slogans like “Gota Go Home”, demanding the ouster of all members of the ruling Rajapaksa clan. Protests that intensified after the imposition of emergency keep growing despite the government expressing readies to take remedial measures.

“People have not asked for a cabinet reshuffle, their message is clear, they are asking the Rajapaksas to go. It is nonsensical that the government is playing musical chairs,” Tamil National Alliance spokesman M.A. Sumanthiran, was quoted as saying by The Hindu. 

Besides President Rajapaksa, his brother Mahinda is Prime Minister, and another brother was Finance Minister but he has resigned along with other cabinet ministers.