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Sri Lanka: Anti-government strike mobilized, schools and businesses closed

Thousands of shops, schools and businesses closed in Sri Lanka today as public and private sector workers went on strike demanding the resignation of the president and government, accusing them of mismanaging the worst economic crisis in the country. and decades.

Sri Lanka has been hit hard by the pandemic, rising oil prices and tax cuts by the government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, with its foreign exchange reserves shrinking to just $ 50 million, the minister said this week. Finance of the country.

Shortages of imported food, fuel and medicine have led to sporadic violent anti-government protests for more than a month. Today the shops remained closed in big cities all over the country while the private railways and buses are also participating in the strike.

The main train station in the commercial capital Colombo was closed this morning and only public buses operated at the neighboring terminal.

Health workers are also on strike, although emergency services are still operating.

Hundreds of students and other protesters remain on the main road to parliament, where a sit-in protest began on Thursday. Some have hung their underwear at roadblocks in an attempt to offend the political leadership.

“We are here because we have given up on the lies that politicians are telling us. We want the president and this government to go home,” said Purnima Muhadiram, a 42-year-old advertiser.

Opposition leader Sajit Premantasa told parliament today that the opposition wanted to file a no-confidence motion against the president and government next week.

Rajapaksa has refused to resign and has repeatedly suggested forming a national unity government headed by him.

Source: Capital

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