SUMMARY
In a late-night address to the nation, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa refused to quit, but promised to appoint a new prime minister and a young Cabinet this week which would introduce key constitutional reforms to curb his powers, amid protests over the nation's worst economic crisis that ousted his elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa.
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Sri Lanka's main Opposition SJB has split over the choice of the next prime minister as its leader Sajith Premadasa is unwilling to be the prime minister in the interim government under embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. In a late-night televised address to the nation, the President on Wednesday refused to quit, but promised to appoint a new Prime Minister and a young Cabinet this week which would introduce key constitutional reforms to curb his powers, amid protests over the nation's worst economic crisis that ousted his elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa who is under protection at a naval base following violent attacks on his aides. (Image: AP)
2 / 7The country is facing unprecedented economic turmoil and following weeks of protests, Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as Sri Lanka's PM on May 9. After Mahinda's resignation, his supporters attacked anti-government protesters, which resulted in a nationwide curfew being imposed and the Army being called out in the capital. (Image: AP)
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