Pressure mounting on Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign amid widespread protests. Demonstrators staged demonstrations outside the office of the chief government whip on Wednesday. Chief government whip Johnston Fernando had stated that the president won’t resign in any circumstances.
An announcement by a prominent Buddhist monk that the Mahanayakas have also asked the government to resign has added to the pressure. The clergy, an important influencer of public opinion, has always been supportive of the Rajapaksas and if the monk’s statement is correct, it can motivate more people to join the protests.
In Sri Lanka, such a large-scale public rebellion has never occurred before, and its conclusion is uncertain unless the country’s power, fuel, and financial difficulties are addressed quickly.
