Sri Lanka’s prime minister on Wednesday offered to meet with protesters occupying the entrance to the president’s office, saying he would listen to their ideas to resolve the economic, social and political challenges facing the country.
The protesters were camped out for a fifth straight day demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the head of state, holding him responsible for the country’s worst economic crisis in decades. They also call for his powerful ruling family to step down, accusing them of corruption and misrule.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the president’s older brother, said he is “willing to talk to” representatives of the protesters gathered near the president’s office in the capital, Colombo, according to a statement signed by his media secretary.
Sri Lankans in recent months have endured fuel and food shortages and daily power outages. Most of those items are paid for in hard currency, but Sri Lanka is on the brink of bankruptcy, saddled with dwindling foreign reserves and $25 billion in foreign debt due for repayment over the next five years. Nearly $7 billion is due this year.
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