COLOMBO: In Sri Lanka, the procedures to form a temporary cabinet have begun following the mass resignation of ministers. As part of it, four ministers of the new cabinet have sworn-in before the president. There are no members of the Rajapaksa family in the primary list. An interim government, excluding Rajapaksa members to crucial posts, has been formed. Meantime, protests have spread to more cities outside of Colombo.

Amid severe economic crises, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had earlier invited the opposition parties to join the government as part of an attempt to form an all-party government in order to face the ongoing crisis. The new temporary government has been formed as part of it. 26 ministers, except Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, had resigned from the former cabinet.

Sri Lanka has been facing acute shortage of food, fuel and other essential commodities. Energy crisis has also worsened in the country. In the backdrop of the economic crisis and protests, emergency was declared in the country on Friday. Police and army have been deployed across the country.