The invitation came hours after cabinet ministers resigned from their posts, following protests over fuel shortage.

In a statement, the President’s Media Division said that the current crisis was a result of several economic factors and global development.

“Sri Lanka should find solutions within a democratic framework, considering this is a national need, the time has come to work together for the sake of all the citizens and the future generations. The president invites all political parties represented in the parliament to come together to accept ministerial portfolios in order to find solutions to this national crisis,” the statement said.

Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Governor, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, also tendered his resignation to President Rajapaksa on Monday.

Sri Lanka had, for days, been facing public protests calling on immediate measures to be taken by the government to solve the economic crisis.

A state of emergency was declared in Sri Lanka on Friday and a 36-hour curfew came into place in the evening the next day, which was, however, lifted on Monday morning.

Government officials confirmed that all cabinet ministers had handed in their resignation letters, paving way for all political parties to form a new cabinet, following discussions held with Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, on Sunday.

Officials said that Rajapaksa and the state ministers would, however, continue to work in their capacities.

The Prime Minister was expected to issue a special statement to the nation, and an invitation would be extended to political parties for joint efforts to form a new government.

Sri Lanka had, for days, seen protests urging the government to take measures immediately to solve hours-long power cut and fuel shortage or to resign.

The country had also suffered a shortage in essential supplies such as food and medicines and foreign currencies, with several sectors being affected as a result.

The police also said that a 36-hour curfew came into force on Saturday evening and was lifted early Monday in a bid to ensure law and order in the country.

Since April, foreign tourism has dropped sharply.
Travel officials stated that many tourists who planned to visit the country over the next few months canceled their plans. Visitor arrivals to Sri Lanka have dropped about 80 per cent since the April bombings.

The tourism industry contributes about 4.9 percent of Sri Lanka’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Last year, over 2 million tourists visited the island, bringing in about $4.4 billion.
According to Industry experts, hotel occupancy rates across the island has fallen by about 85 percent.
For the most part, beaches, eateries and stores in popular tourist areas are now empty.
Hikkaduwa is one of the most popular beaches in the southwest coast of the island nation. The area loved by tourists because of its good surfing conditions and clear waters for snorkeling. The Associated Press reported that on a recent day, only a few of the areas 27 hotels were even open. Most eateries that sit along the six-kilometer beach were closed.
The Hikkaduwa Beach Hotel was one of the few places still open. On the day of the bombings, all 50 of its rooms were full. Now, few people are staying there.
“It’s a real disaster. We don’t know what to do right now,” said Sanjeewani Yogarajah, who works at the hotel. She said the attack has so far cost the business about $31,000. The low earnings has forced the hotel to send half of its workers home.

Lankesha Ponnamperuma, who runs the hotel company Hikka Tranz, is one of the luckier business owners. He says that athough foreign visitors are mainly staying away, his business still survives because many local people are using the hotels. He said that Most days, up to two-thirds of the companys hotels are filled

The president of Sri Lankas Hotels Association, Sanath Ukwatta, said hotels have been advertising rates 30 to 50 percent lower in a bid to get Sri Lankans to come. He admits such offers will not fully solve the economic problems, however they can still “help at least to keep the hotels going.”

Hotel worker Sanjeewani Yogarajah says one of the biggest concerns for industry officials is a travel ban issued for Sri Lanka by several countries after the attacks.
“The ban is our main worry. Until it is removed or softened, we can’t start our marketing to attract tourists,” he said. “If it is lifted soon, we are hopeful we can bounce back this year, or otherwise definitely next year.”