Sri Lanka Crisis: Ex-Min Arjuna Ranatunga Says Prez Must Resign If He Can't Handle Situation; Praises India for Helping Island Nation
News 18Sri Lanka Crisis Updates: Sri Lankan government on Wednesday said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will not resign under any circumstances and will face the current issues, as it defended the embattled leader?s decision to enforce a state of emergency, which he later revoked after huge public protests demanded his resignation over the country?s worst economic crisis. Facing its worst economic crisis since independence, Sri Lanka has been gripped by the massive uproar and agitation by people protesting against the country?s government. India recently announced to extend a USD 1 billion line of credit to Sri Lanka as part of its financial assistance to the country to deal with the economic crisis following a previous USD 500 billion line of credit in February to help it purchase petroleum products. President Rajapaksa has defended his government?s actions, saying the foreign exchange crisis was not his making and the economic downturn was largely pandemic driven with the island nation?s tourism revenue and inward remittances waning.