Colombo: Sri LankaPresident Gotabaya Rajapaksa Will not resign, a minister said on Wednesday, despite protests over the country’s handling of the country’s worst economic crisis in decades and doctors staged street protests over drug shortages.
Rajapaksa, who has ruled the country since 2019 along with other family members in top positions, revoked a state of emergency late Tuesday after five days as dozens of legislators walked out of the ruling coalition, bringing his government to a minority. Went.
People have been grappling with shortages of fuel, electricity, food, medicines and other items for weeks, and doctors say the entire health system could collapse in weeks. Protests on the streets began a month ago and have intensified in recent days, with people openly violating the state of emergency and weekend curfews.
“I can remind you that 6.9 million people voted for the president,” Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said in parliament in response to criticism of the opposition and the slogan “Go home gotta”.
“As a government, we are clearly saying that the President will not resign under any circumstances. We will face it.”
As he spoke, dozens of doctors, some in their blue scrubs, stood in protest at the National Hospital in the commercial capital Colombo. Some held a banner in their hands that read: “Strengthen people’s right to live. Declare a health emergency.”
Malaka Samarthana, who works at the state-run Apeksha Hospital, which treats thousands of cancer patients across the country every year, said not only the drugs but also the chemicals used in the trials are running low.
“We have to carefully monitor the patients who are on chemotherapy. We have to monitor these tests every day,” Samarthana said.
“So, if we can’t do that, we can’t decide the way forward. We can’t decide on proper management. Sometimes our chemotherapy drugs are causing serious side effects, so the only way we have to find it is by doing these investigations.”
Cancer drugs like filgrastim and cytarabine, as well as some antibiotics, are in short supply, he said.
Vasan Ratnasingam, spokesperson for the Government Medical Officers Association, which represents more than 16,000 doctors across the country, said at least one vital medicine was not available at his Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children.
“And besides, there is a shortage of 102 essential medicines. Some of those drugs are frequently used, such as for respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections,” he said, warning doctors to take immediate action on routine treatment. And the surgery has to be stopped. was not taken.
‘The End of Patience’
According to a source aware of discussions between India and Sri Lanka, the $1 billion line of credit that India signed with Sri Lanka last month has still not arrived.
“But there is certainly a sense of urgency on both sides,” said the source, refusing to be named as the discussions were not public.
Sri Lanka And Indian officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Minister of Education Dinesh Gunawardene Said the government understood the difficulties of the people and was working to find solutions, but added: “We must use democratic means to restore peace”.
Rajapaksa’s various moves – including getting financial aid from India and China – have failed to end the lack of roads or spontaneous protests across the country.
His finance minister resigned on Tuesday, a day after his appointment and ahead of crucial talks with the International Monetary Fund for a loan program this month.
He dissolved his cabinet on Monday and sought to form a unity government, a proposal rejected by the ruling and opposition parties.
There is such a shortage of funds that the country is temporarily closing some of its embassies.
Taxi driver Ruvanpatiranage Dharmavardhan, 65, said people are restless and tired of the pain.
“They have reached the end of their patience,” he said. “No one can say how people will behave, what decisions they will make.”
Rajapaksa, who has ruled the country since 2019 along with other family members in top positions, revoked a state of emergency late Tuesday after five days as dozens of legislators walked out of the ruling coalition, bringing his government to a minority. Went.
People have been grappling with shortages of fuel, electricity, food, medicines and other items for weeks, and doctors say the entire health system could collapse in weeks. Protests on the streets began a month ago and have intensified in recent days, with people openly violating the state of emergency and weekend curfews.
“I can remind you that 6.9 million people voted for the president,” Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said in parliament in response to criticism of the opposition and the slogan “Go home gotta”.
“As a government, we are clearly saying that the President will not resign under any circumstances. We will face it.”
As he spoke, dozens of doctors, some in their blue scrubs, stood in protest at the National Hospital in the commercial capital Colombo. Some held a banner in their hands that read: “Strengthen people’s right to live. Declare a health emergency.”
Malaka Samarthana, who works at the state-run Apeksha Hospital, which treats thousands of cancer patients across the country every year, said not only the drugs but also the chemicals used in the trials are running low.
“We have to carefully monitor the patients who are on chemotherapy. We have to monitor these tests every day,” Samarthana said.
“So, if we can’t do that, we can’t decide the way forward. We can’t decide on proper management. Sometimes our chemotherapy drugs are causing serious side effects, so the only way we have to find it is by doing these investigations.”
Cancer drugs like filgrastim and cytarabine, as well as some antibiotics, are in short supply, he said.
Vasan Ratnasingam, spokesperson for the Government Medical Officers Association, which represents more than 16,000 doctors across the country, said at least one vital medicine was not available at his Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children.
“And besides, there is a shortage of 102 essential medicines. Some of those drugs are frequently used, such as for respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections,” he said, warning doctors to take immediate action on routine treatment. And the surgery has to be stopped. was not taken.
‘The End of Patience’
According to a source aware of discussions between India and Sri Lanka, the $1 billion line of credit that India signed with Sri Lanka last month has still not arrived.
“But there is certainly a sense of urgency on both sides,” said the source, refusing to be named as the discussions were not public.
Sri Lanka And Indian officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Minister of Education Dinesh Gunawardene Said the government understood the difficulties of the people and was working to find solutions, but added: “We must use democratic means to restore peace”.
Rajapaksa’s various moves – including getting financial aid from India and China – have failed to end the lack of roads or spontaneous protests across the country.
His finance minister resigned on Tuesday, a day after his appointment and ahead of crucial talks with the International Monetary Fund for a loan program this month.
He dissolved his cabinet on Monday and sought to form a unity government, a proposal rejected by the ruling and opposition parties.
There is such a shortage of funds that the country is temporarily closing some of its embassies.
Taxi driver Ruvanpatiranage Dharmavardhan, 65, said people are restless and tired of the pain.
“They have reached the end of their patience,” he said. “No one can say how people will behave, what decisions they will make.”