As the country faces its greatest economic crisis in decades, Sri Lanka's cabinet resigns en masse.

 

According to political observers, cabinet ministers faced significant public criticism over the government's alleged'mishandling' of the economic crisis, which was sparked by a foreign exchange reserve deficit.

                         Late Sunday night, Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Ministers resigned with immediate effect, as the country faces its greatest economic crisis in history. Education Minister and House Leader Dinesh Gunawardena told reporters that Cabinet Ministers have handed in their resignations to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Political experts in the city, however, said the ministers were under significant public criticism over the government's alleged "mishandling" of the economic crisis, which was precipitated by a foreign exchange reserve shortage.

Despite the implementation of a curfew that is set to terminate on Monday AM, widespread public protests were witnessed throughout the evening.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation has been demanded by an irate people. 

On March 31, 2022, an enraged mob approached Rajapaksa's private mansion, prompting the government to proclaim a state of emergency. 

On April 3, 2022, a planned social media-triggered major demonstration was planned. The government, on the other hand, retaliated by imposing a 36-hour curfew.

Rumours have been circulating since the evening that Rajapaksa may choose an interim administration to deal with the economic crisis. 

Throughout the island, disturbing scenes were witnessed.

During a protest in the central province, Sri Lankan police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse hundreds of university students. Despite the curfew, the protest was held. The government's inadequate management of the economic crisis, which has left people without electricity for lengthy periods of time and essentials in short supply, has enraged the populace, who have planned nationwide protests for April 3, 2022.

To avoid planned demonstrations calling for President Rajapaksa's removal over growing living costs and a foreign exchange crisis, the government ordered internet service providers to ban social media access. In the second half of April 2022, the social media restrictions were relaxed.

Legislators from Sri Lanka's main opposition party, Samagi Jana Balawegaya, defied curfew orders to organise an anti-government protest in Colombo protesting President Rajapaksa's decision to establish a state of emergency and other restrictions.

The opposition MPs marched towards Independence Square in Colombo, singing slogans and holding signs that read "Stop Suppression" and "Gota Go Home." 

Barricades were placed up in front of the Independence Square, which was built to honour Sri Lanka's 1948 independence. 

Hundreds of students from the University of Peradeniya flocked to the streets in Central Province to protest the country's current condition of affairs. Police, on the other hand, erected barricades near the campus.

University students, backed by their teachers, marched to Galaha Junction, where tensions erupted when they attempted to dismantle police barricades, according to the News 1st station.

According to the report, police used water cannons to disperse the gathering before firing tear gas, adding that the atmosphere in the region is tense.

Sri Lanka is in the midst of its worst economic crisis in its history. The population has been suffering for weeks due to long queues for fuel, cooking gas, staples in short supply, and long hours of power outages.