<p>Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa called for a unity government on Monday to deal with the country's economic crisis, as cabinet ministers and the central bank governor offered to resign and stock trading was halted twice because of a plunge in share prices.</p>.<p>The debt-laden country is struggling to pay for imports of fuel and other goods due to a foreign exchange crisis, leading to hours-long power cuts and a shortage of essentials. Widespread street protests have continued despite a weekend curfew.</p>.<p>"Considering this a national need, the time has come to work together for the sake of all the citizens and future generations," Rajapaksa's media office said in a statement.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/sri-lanka-economic-crisis-live-rajapaksa-emergency-violence-protest-cabinet-economy-colombo-student-injured-social-media-ban-democracy-markets-loan-stocks-1097490.html" target="_blank"><strong>Track Sri Lanka updates here</strong></a></p>.<p>"The president invites all political parties representing in the parliament to come together to accept ministerial portfolios in order to find solutions to this national crisis."</p>.<p>Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said he had also offered to quit.</p>.<p>"In the context of all cabinet ministers resigning, I have today submitted my resignation as Governor," he said on Twitter.</p>.<p>The developments come after Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency on Friday, following protests over the economic hardship faced by the people of the country.</p>.<p>The Colombo Stock Exchange suspended trading twice on Monday morning due to a sharp fall in the benchmark share price index.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/sri-lankas-new-cabinet-likely-to-be-sworn-in-on-monday-1097478.html" target="_blank">Sri Lanka's new Cabinet likely to be sworn in on Monday</a></strong></p>.<p>Traffic was back on the streets of the country's main city Colombo on Monday, but there were reports of sporadic and peaceful protests from across the country.</p>.<p>The island nation of 22 million is also grappling with soaring inflation after the government steeply devalued its currency last month ahead of talks with the International Monetary Fund for a loan programme.</p>.<p>The country's expenditure has exceeded its income under successive governments while its production of tradable goods and services has been inadequate. The twin deficits were badly exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic that crippled its economic mainstay, the tourism industry.</p>.<p><em><strong>Check out the latest DH videos here:</strong></em></p>
<p>Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa called for a unity government on Monday to deal with the country's economic crisis, as cabinet ministers and the central bank governor offered to resign and stock trading was halted twice because of a plunge in share prices.</p>.<p>The debt-laden country is struggling to pay for imports of fuel and other goods due to a foreign exchange crisis, leading to hours-long power cuts and a shortage of essentials. Widespread street protests have continued despite a weekend curfew.</p>.<p>"Considering this a national need, the time has come to work together for the sake of all the citizens and future generations," Rajapaksa's media office said in a statement.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/sri-lanka-economic-crisis-live-rajapaksa-emergency-violence-protest-cabinet-economy-colombo-student-injured-social-media-ban-democracy-markets-loan-stocks-1097490.html" target="_blank"><strong>Track Sri Lanka updates here</strong></a></p>.<p>"The president invites all political parties representing in the parliament to come together to accept ministerial portfolios in order to find solutions to this national crisis."</p>.<p>Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said he had also offered to quit.</p>.<p>"In the context of all cabinet ministers resigning, I have today submitted my resignation as Governor," he said on Twitter.</p>.<p>The developments come after Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency on Friday, following protests over the economic hardship faced by the people of the country.</p>.<p>The Colombo Stock Exchange suspended trading twice on Monday morning due to a sharp fall in the benchmark share price index.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/sri-lankas-new-cabinet-likely-to-be-sworn-in-on-monday-1097478.html" target="_blank">Sri Lanka's new Cabinet likely to be sworn in on Monday</a></strong></p>.<p>Traffic was back on the streets of the country's main city Colombo on Monday, but there were reports of sporadic and peaceful protests from across the country.</p>.<p>The island nation of 22 million is also grappling with soaring inflation after the government steeply devalued its currency last month ahead of talks with the International Monetary Fund for a loan programme.</p>.<p>The country's expenditure has exceeded its income under successive governments while its production of tradable goods and services has been inadequate. The twin deficits were badly exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic that crippled its economic mainstay, the tourism industry.</p>.<p><em><strong>Check out the latest DH videos here:</strong></em></p>