The governor of Sri Lanka’s central bank said he tendered his resignation as the country faces its worst economic crisis in decades.
Ajith Nivard Cabraal’s announcement came after all of the country’s cabinet ministers resigned.
Angry protesters also called for the resignation of the country’s prime minister and president.
Due to a severe shortage of foreign exchange, the government is unable to pay for essential imports, including fuel.
The island nation of around 22 million people is suffering from its worst economic crisis since independence from Great Britain in 1948.
The central bank was due to make a rate decision on Tuesday.
Protesters took to the streets of the capital Colombo as power to homes and businesses was cut for up to 13 hours straight.
Sri Lankans are also grappling with shortages and rising inflation after the country sharply devalued its currency last month ahead of bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
It comes as 26 Sri Lankan ministers have submitted letters of resignation – but not Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa or his brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
President Rajapaksa on Monday urged all political parties represented in parliament to accept ministerial portfolios to find a way out of the crisis, his office said in a statement.
Mr Cabraal was appointed as the 16th governor of the central bank last September.
Prior to that, he served as the bank’s 12th governor for nearly a decade, from July 2006 to January 2015.
During his first term, Mr. Cabraal also helped more than triple the size of Sri Lanka’s economy, according to the bank.
Under his stewardship, the bank said, “Sri Lanka has been able to maintain sound and stable macroeconomic fundamentals, with inflation contained at low levels and financial system stability achieved at a time of severe global uncertainty and turmoil.”
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