New Delhi: Amid the ongoing political crisis in Sri Lanka, the Congress, expressing solidarity with its people, hoped that India will continue to assist the island nation in dealing with the current situation, news agency PTI reported. In a statement issued by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, she said that the Indian National Congress has been following the evolving political situation in Sri Lanka with concern.
“The economic challenges, rising prices and shortage of food, fuel and essential commodities have caused enormous hardships and distress among the people there,” the statement said, adding, “The Congress party expresses its solidarity with Sri Lanka and its people in this moment of grave crisis and hopes they will be able to overcome it.”
"We hope that India will continue to assist the people and government of Sri Lanka as they deal with the difficulties of the current situation," the statement further said.
The Congress President also said that the party urges the international community to extend all possible help to support Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, anti-government protesters continued to occupy the official residences of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday, a day after they stormed the premises and set ablaze one of the buildings as a mark of agitation. The people have been protesting against the country’s severe economic woes even as the whereabouts of the President is still not known.
Notably, PM Wickremesinghe on Saturday offered to step down from his post and form an all-party government, hours after thousands of protesters barged into the official residence of President Rajapaksa.
In videos that emerged on the social media, anti-government protesters could be seen occupying a bedroom, sitting on a bed and helping themselves to food in the kitchen and splashing in a swimming pool in President Gotabaya's residence.