Demonstrations continued in Sri Lanks.

Protesters are demanding the resignation of Sri Lanka’s president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The president is widely blamed for the island nation’s economic woes: soaring prices, thinning supplies of essentials and power cuts.

Interest rates have doubled and the country’s suspended payments on its $51-bln foreign debt.

The stock exchange was closed from Monday to try to prevent a market collapse.

Sri Lanka’s parliament is due to reconvene this Tuesday, April 19.

Opposition parties reportedly plan to bring a no-confidence motion.

Also APR 19 a delegation from Sri Lanka is due in Washington for bail-out talks with the International Monetary Fund.

Sri Lanka’s finance minister Ali Sabry has told Bloomberg the country needs ‘immediate emergency funding of up to $4-bln.

Aljazeera.