US, EU urges Sri Lankan political parties to cooperate and work quickly to achieve political and economic stability

The European Union (EU) and the US on Sunday urged Sri Lanka’s political fraternity to cooperate, focus and work quickly’ to achieve a peaceful, democratic and orderly transition amid the island nation’s worst economic and political crisis in decades.

Rajapaksa would resign on July 13, Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said on Saturday night, while Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has already expressed his willingness to step down. In Washington, a State Department spokesperson said the US calls on the Sri Lankan parliament to approach this juncture with a commitment to the betterment of the nation not any one political party.

“We urge this government or any new, constitutionally selected government to work quickly to identify and implement solutions that will achieve long-term economic stability and address the Sri Lankan people’s discontent over the worsening economic conditions, including power, food and fuel shortages”, the spokesperson said.

“We are closely following developments in Sri Lanka, and call on all parties to cooperate and focus on a peaceful, democratic and orderly transition”, said a statement released by the European Union.