Sri Lanka's cabinet and central bank governor have quit in the face of mounting public anger and mass protests over rising food and fuel prices.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa replaced his brother Basil Rajapaksa as finance minister, but new appointee Ali Sabry resigned just a day later.
Thousands of Sri Lankans took to the streets on Monday calling for the ouster of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa seen here on November 1, 2021 in Glasgow, United Kingdom."Gotta go, Gotabaya," chanted thousands of people who came out on the streets of Sri Lanka to demand the ouster of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, defying a state of emergency in what analysts called the Sri Lankan version of the Arab Spring.
At least 41 Sri Lankan lawmakers walked out of the ruling coalition, leaving the Rajapaksa government in a minority in Parliament. On the same day, the government was dealt another blow when finance minister Ali Sabry resigned just a day after his appointment. "Sri Lanka is also witnessing anti-government protests in response to an economic downturn, rising inflation and shortage of essential goods. Similar slogans as during the Arab Spring are also being used," he said.
"Although such efforts will help to address imbalances, higher taxes will probably stoke anti-government sentiment further," she said.
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