Sri Lanka crisis: PM insists no request from President to quit as Parliament meets
Story highlights
To remove Rajapaksa and his Cabinet, a majority vote is needed in the 225-member Parliament. Although United People's Force has only 54 votes, it looks to win votes of small opposition parties and defections from the ruling Sri Lanka People's Front party. The decision over the date of holding no-confidence vote is expected after members of Parliament meet on Wednesday
Even as economic and political crisis continues in Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that he is ready to quit but no request has been made by his younger brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
“If the President tells me to go, I will leave immediately. But there has been no such request," the Prime Minister said.
Ranjith Siyambalapitya has also confirmed that president has accepted his resignation letter from the post of Deputy Speaker. Vote for the new Deputy Speaker will be held on May 5.
The main opposition party of the country has also sought the no-confidence vote to oust the PM and his Cabinet, media reports said.
The party has also blamed them for not being able to ensure decent standard of living in the country.
Led by leader Sajith Premadasa, a group of lawmakers from United People's Force party delivered the motion of holding no-confidence parliamentary vote to Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Tuesday.
This comes as the island nation witnesses its worst economic crisis. Several protests have also been held by protesters across the country to demand the resignation of the PM and president.
The demonstrators hold the leaders responsible for the economic crisis.
To remove Rajapaksa and his Cabinet, a majority vote is needed in the 225-member Parliament.
Watch: Sri Lanka Crisis & Chaos: Rajapaksas, SLPP decide to form interim govt
Although United People's Force has only 54 votes, it looks to win votes of small opposition parties and defections from the ruling Sri Lanka People's Front party.
The decision over the date of holding no-confidence vote is expected after members of Parliament meet on Wednesday.
A no-confidence motion was also delivered by the party to target the president but it is not likely to force him to resign even if lawmakers vote against him.
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(With inputs from agencies)