Sri Lanka: Opposition party SJB to protest against govt next week

Colombo [Sri Lanka], April 18 (ANI): Sri Lanka Opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has decided to launch an anti-government protest march from Kandy to the capital city, Colombo on April 26, local media reported.
SJB Senior Vice President Lakshman Kiriella informed that the protest will be against the crisis pertaining to fertilizer, violation of human rights, absence of rule of law and the high cost of living, Daily Mirror reported.
"The march which will be led by Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa will begin near the Kandy Central Bus Stand at 9 am on April 26," Kiriella said.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa accepted the fact that not providing the chemical fertilizer to farmers was a mistake and said that the government will provide the fertilizers again.
He made this statement while addressing the new cabinet of ministers today. The President also said that the government should have gone to the IMF much earlier, reported Daily Mirror.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is set to propose to the cabinet to amend the constitution, media reports said on Monday.
Mahinda Rajapaksa made this move taking into consideration the demand for a government that is accountable to the people. The proposed constitutional amendment would include changes to the executive, legislature, and the judiciary, Xinhua reported citing the prime minister's media unit said.
One of the demands of recent anti-government protests has also been the constitutional amendment that reduces the power of the executive.
Mass protests over economic mismanagement escalated in early April, prompting the president to declare a state of emergency on April 1.
On April 3, the entire Sri Lankan cabinet decided to resign in the wake of the large-scale protests. The only exception was Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who remained in office. On the same day, Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed key ministers to an interim cabinet.
Sri Lanka has been gripped by an economic crisis considered the worst since the country gained independence in 1948. Due to energy shortages, some parts of Sri Lanka have rolling blackouts. Sri Lanka's foreign debt is estimated at USD 51 billion. (ANI)