Sri Lanka's minister of mass media Nalaka Godahewa on Saturday backed demonstrators asking Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to step down.

He said, "We need to restore political stability to successfully meet the economic crisis."

"The entire cabinet, including the prime minister, should resign and [there should be] an interim cabinet that can win the confidence of all," he added in a statement on his Facebook page.

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Sri Lanka, which has a population of 22 million, is suffering from its worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948. As a result, there are acute shortages of food, fuel, and lengthy power blackouts.

It has triggered a wave of protests against the island nation's beleaguered prime minister and his family.

To curb them, Sri Lankan police used tear gas and amid clashes with protesters, one demonstrator died.

In response, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said, Sri Lankan citizens' right to peacefully protest won't be hindered."

"Police will carry out an impartial and transparent inquiry regarding the incident at Rambukkana which led to the tragedy for which I'm deeply saddened. I urge all citizens to refrain from violence as they protest," he added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/debt-ridden-sri-lankas-inflation-soared-to-a-record-high-473058" hreflang="en">Debt-ridden Sri Lanka's inflation soared to a record high</a>

According to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G. L. Peiris, "Assistance by the IMF will take about six months to come to us and it will come in tranches."

"During the intervening period, we need to find funds to keep our people supplied with essentials."

The Rajapaksa family has been accused of nepotism and corruption as most of its family members were a part of the government's cabinet.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa removed his brothers Chamal and Basil from the cabinet after facing intense pressure.&nbsp;

Calling the move ''cosmetic,'' the protestors camped outside Rajapaksa's office asking him to resign.

Former media minister Dullas Alahapperuma said, "I urge the President to appoint a smaller cabinet with a genuine consensus representing all parties in parliament for one-year maximum."&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Sri Lanka's minister of mass media Nalaka Godahewa on Saturday backed demonstrators asking Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to step down. He said, "We need to restore political stability to successfully meet the economic crisis.

Sri Lanka's minister of mass media Nalaka Godahewa on Saturday backed demonstrators asking Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to step down. He said, "We need to restore political stability to successfully meet the economic crisis." "The entire cabinet, including the prime minister, should resign and [there should be] an interim cabinet that can win the confidence of all," he added in a statement on his Facebook page. Sri Lanka, which has a population of 22 million, is suffering from its worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948. As a result, there are acute shortages of food, fuel, and lengthy power blackouts. It has triggered a wave of protests against the island nation's beleaguered prime minister and his family. To curb them, Sri Lankan police used tear gas and amid clashes with protesters, one demonstrator died. In response, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said, Sri Lankan citizens' right to peacefully protest won't be hindered." "Police will carry out an impartial and transparent inquiry regarding the incident at Rambukkana which led to the tragedy for which I'm deeply saddened. I urge all citizens to refrain from violence as they protest," he added. Also read | Debt-ridden Sri Lanka's inflation soared to a record high According to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G. L. Peiris, "Assistance by the IMF will take about six months to come to us and it will come in tranches." "During the intervening period, we need to find funds to keep our people supplied with essentials." The Rajapaksa family has been accused of nepotism and corruption as most of its family members were a part of the government's cabinet. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa removed his brothers Chamal and Basil from the cabinet after facing intense pressure. Calling the move ''cosmetic,'' the protestors camped outside Rajapaksa's office asking him to resign. Former media minister Dullas Alahapperuma said, "I urge the President to appoint a smaller cabinet with a genuine consensus representing all parties in parliament for one-year maximum." (With inputs from agencies)

Sri Lankan minister Godahewa changes camp, backs protests to seek PM's resignation

A sinking fire-damaged container ship could take months to salvage because of rough monsoon seas, Sri Lanka said Tuesday, as authorities investigated whether the deaths of dozens of turtles and dolphins were caused by the disaster.&nbsp;

Part of the Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl submerged in early June after catching fire and burning for almost two weeks off the island nation's coast, releasing tonnes of plastic raw materials that swamped local beaches.

Coast Conservation Minister Nalaka Godahewa said he wanted the vessel removed so it would not pose a further pollution risk.

"We want the wreck removed yesterday, but salvors can't start their work in current conditions," Godahewa told reporters in the capital Colombo.

The monsoon season started this month and usually ends in September.

Salvors believe the ship's fuel oil burnt out during the blaze, but Godahewa said authorities remained on standby for potential leaks.

The island's wildlife authorities are also investigating the deaths of a number of turtles and dolphins after dozens of carcasses washed ashore over the past few weeks.

Godahewa said autopsies were being conducted to determine if they died due to pollution from the ship.

The probe came ahead of the arrival of three United Nations Environment Programme experts on Wednesday to help the South Asian nation estimate the damage caused by the incident.

The vessel was known to be carrying 81 containers of hazardous chemicals, including 25 tonnes of nitric acid, when it caught fire.

Sri Lanka is seeking $40 million in damages from the ship's operators, X-Press Feeders, over what officials have described as the "worst marine disaster" in the country's history.

Environmentalists are suing the government and X-Press Feeders for allegedly failing to prevent the disaster, while Sri Lankan police have also launched a criminal probe against the ship's captain, chief engineer and chief officer.

A sinking fire-damaged container ship could take months to salvage because of rough monsoon seas, Sri Lanka said Tuesday, as authorities investigated whether the deaths of dozens of turtles and dolphins were caused by the disaster.

A sinking fire-damaged container ship could take months to salvage because of rough monsoon seas, Sri Lanka said Tuesday, as authorities investigated whether the deaths of dozens of turtles and dolphins were caused by the disaster. Part of the Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl submerged in early June after catching fire and burning for almost two weeks off the island nation's coast, releasing tonnes of plastic raw materials that swamped local beaches. Coast Conservation Minister Nalaka Godahewa said he wanted the vessel removed so it would not pose a further pollution risk. "We want the wreck removed yesterday, but salvors can't start their work in current conditions," Godahewa told reporters in the capital Colombo. The monsoon season started this month and usually ends in September. Salvors believe the ship's fuel oil burnt out during the blaze, but Godahewa said authorities remained on standby for potential leaks. The island's wildlife authorities are also investigating the deaths of a number of turtles and dolphins after dozens of carcasses washed ashore over the past few weeks. Godahewa said autopsies were being conducted to determine if they died due to pollution from the ship. The probe came ahead of the arrival of three United Nations Environment Programme experts on Wednesday to help the South Asian nation estimate the damage caused by the incident. The vessel was known to be carrying 81 containers of hazardous chemicals, including 25 tonnes of nitric acid, when it caught fire. Sri Lanka is seeking $40 million in damages from the ship's operators, X-Press Feeders, over what officials have described as the "worst marine disaster" in the country's history. Environmentalists are suing the government and X-Press Feeders for allegedly failing to prevent the disaster, while Sri Lankan police have also launched a criminal probe against the ship's captain, chief engineer and chief officer.

Monsoon delays salvage of fire-ravaged ship off Sri Lanka

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Sri Lankan minister Godahewa changes camp, backs protests to seek PM's resignation

Monsoon delays salvage of fire-ravaged ship off Sri Lanka