Sri Lanka president won't resign despite growing protests

A government minister says Sri Lanka’s president will not step down and instead will face the political and economic crisis that has sparked large protests demanding his resignation

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lanka's president will not step down and instead will face the country's political and economic crisis, a key government minister said Wednesday despite continuing large protests that are demanding his resignation.

Sri Lanka has endured months of shortages of fuel and other essentials, and the protests over the economic troubles have spread nationwide and expanded to criticism of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his politically powerful family.

Rajapaksa has resisted the calls for him to resign even after members of his own coalition made them this week, with governing party lawmakers saying an interim government should replace his and failing to do so would make them responsible for violence.

Rajapaksa “will not resign. We will face this. We have the strength to face this. We are not afraid," Minister of Highways Johnston Fernando told Parliament on Wednesday.