SRI LANKA’S biggest opposition party has rejected an invitation to join a national unity government to address protests that brought down the previous administration on Sunday night.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa called on all political parties with parliamentary representation to “accept ministerial portfolios to find solutions to this national crisis” on Monday following the resignation of every cabinet minister.

Central Bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal quit too after just six months in post, as demonstrators defied a curfew and official state of emergency.

MPs called on the parliamentary speaker to lead discussions on a unity administration, but the opposition United People’s Force said it would respect the “voices in the streets” demanding the downfall of the president himself.

Around 40 MPs from the governing coalition said today they would no longer observe the whip when voting. Former cabinet minister Wimal Weerawansa said there could be no solution unless the existing government were replaced by an interim administration, while another government MP, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, called on the opposition to work with them to “solve this problem.

“If [we don’t], there can be a bloodbath in this country,” he appealed.

Violent police crackdowns since last Friday have failed to dent massive protests over food, medicine and fuel shortages that are causing daily blackouts and long queues for essentials.

Shortages of hard currency have crippled imports and inflation had hit 18.7 per cent in March, causing widespread suffering. The island’s significant tourism industry has been hit hard by the Covid pandemic.

President Rajapaksa has approached the International Monetary Fund, China and India for emergency loans.