President holds cabinet meeting in Sri Lanka, discusses ways to normalize the situation within a week

Sri Lanka's cabinet, led by newly-elected President Ranil Wickremesinghe, met for the first time and discussed ways to normalize the situation in the economic crisis-hit country within a week. A media report said that the meeting discussed ways to normalize the situation within a week by regularizing the functioning of government institutions like the Prime Minister's Office and the President's Secretariat.

President called meeting

According to a news published in the Daily Mirror newspaper, after the appointment of the new cabinet on Friday, the President called a meeting. The newspaper quoted sources as saying that they discussed that the situation should return to normal within a week by regularizing the functioning of government institutions and schools like the Prime Minister's Office, President's Secretariat in the country. The cabinet was informed that there is enough fuel for one month and the distribution should be accelerated under the quota system.

President Wickremesinghe said this

President Wickremesinghe said he has empowered the security forces to uphold the constitution and create an environment in which people can live without fear. The cabinet also discussed talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is being done to get financial assistance. Meanwhile, the opposition urged Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene to convene a session of Parliament on July 25 to discuss the crackdown on peaceful protesters in Galle Face on Friday and the current situation in the country by the security forces.

People of Sri Lanka refused to accept Wickremesinghe as President

Significantly, Sri Lankan security forces and police, armed with assault rifles and sticks, on Friday forcibly removed anti-government protesters who had camped outside the presidential office. Protesters have vacated the president's and prime minister's residences and the prime minister's office, which they occupied on July 9, but they still occupied some rooms in the presidential secretariat. He also refused to accept Wickremesinghe as the new President.

Sri Lanka is facing economic crisis

The main protesting group, which has blocked entry to the President's office since April 9, said their protest would continue till Wickremesinghe resigned. Sri Lanka's new government has been criticized for using force to clear anti-government protesters. Sri Lanka, a country with a population of 22 million, is facing the worst economic crisis in seven decades, due to which people are struggling to buy food, medicine, fuel and other essential items.