A key partner in Sri Lanka’s ruling coalition demanded “urgent” government reforms on Friday after a local election defeat that has sparked calls for the Prime Minister to step down.
The National Heritage Party (JHU) said Saturday’s vote showed the people were unhappy with the government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, which has struggled to overcome internal divisions.
“There must be urgent reforms,” said JHU leader Champika Ranawaka, who is also Minister for Urban Development. “There must be giant changes that will directly address the aspirations of the people,” he added.
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Mr. Wickremesinghe came to power in 2015 on a pledge to end the corruption that took hold under the former regime of Mahinda Rajapakse. But Rajapakse, whose family wields enormous influence in Sri Lanka, has staged a comeback in the local polls.