Sri Lanka’s president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has agreed to ‘take steps’ towards creating an all-party interim government, according to a release from his office earlier today, with reports that his elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa may be removed from his post as prime minister.
The press release says Rajapaksa met with “party leaders and representatives” to discuss the terms of a new all-party government, with former president Mathripala Sirisena present at the discussions.
It added that the embattled president would agree to "the points contained in a common proposal presented by the party representatives if all political parties supported it".
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sirisena said that Gotabaya was willing to replace Mahinda as prime minister in a proposed interim government. However, just hours later, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s spokesperson said that no such agreement had taken place between the siblings.
Earlier this week Mahinda Rajapaksa rejected growing calls to resign. “I will not step down. They can remove me, but I will not resign nor will I flee in fear,” he told a meeting.
The talks come after repeated calls to have both the President and Prime Minister resign. Previously, Gotabaya reshuffled and removed two of his brothers as well as his nephew from the cabinet. However, anti-government protests have continued.
