COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has defied calls to resign, pledging instead to form a new government after violent clashes this week left eight people dead in an escalation of a monthslong crisis over food and fuel shortages.
“I will give the opportunity for the new government and new PM to start a new program to take the country forward,” he said in a televised address, adding that after stability is restored, he will discuss curbing his executive powers with all political parties.
