Lanka PM Ranil Wickremesinghe wants 'order restored', asked to resign at all-party meet

All the ministers who participated in the meeting were of the opinion that as soon as there is an agreement to form an all-party government, they will hand over the responsibilities to that government, reports said.

This comes as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the crisis-hit nation by handing over his charges to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Following the meeting, Wickremesinghe's office informed that the ruling party and the opposition must form an all-party government.

He has also informed Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to nominate a Prime Minister who is acceptable to both the government and the Opposition.

Sri Lanka is witnessing massive protests on Wednesday after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flew to the Maldives.

An indefinite curfew has been imposed across the Western Province, including Colombo, to contain the escalating protests.

Protesters even entered the Prime Minister's Office forcefully as videos and images of the incident have gone viral on social media.

Tear gas shells were fired at thousands of people who mobbed the Prime Minister's office, took over his residence and pushed against the gates of the Lankan parliament.

In a televised statement, the Prime Minister said he had instructed the military and police to do "what is necessary to restore order". The demonstrators "want to stop me from discharging my responsibilities as acting president", he said, adding, "We can't allow fascists to take over."

A committee, comprising of Chief of Defence Staff, Tri force Commanders and IGP ,had been appointed to ensure the security and the safety of the citizens and to restore law and order in the country, Wickremesinghe announced as quoted by the newspaper.

Sri Lanka's state-run TV network, Rupavahini Corporation, briefly suspended its telecast after protesters entered the TV station. The channel resumed the broadcast later.

Meanwhile, on their arrival in the Maldives, President Rajapaksa, his wife and bodyguards were driven to an undisclosed location under police escort, said reports. The President's younger brother and former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa has also left the country, reports added.

The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka has dismissed reports claiming that India had helped President Rajapaksa and his brother Basil flee.