Colombo:  Passing though it’s one of the worst economic crises, the island nation Sri Lanka is also now witnessing political turmoil with the entire cabinet of the government resigning from their respective posts.

What is interesting is that despite his entire cabinet putting its papers, Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to stay as the Prime Minister.

The decision of his cabinet colleagues was taken when the office of PM issued a statement stating that Rajapaksa has decided not to resign.

Describing the report of his plans to resign as false, the statement made it clear the PM has no plans to leave the post.

In his tweet, Namal Rajapaksa, the eldest son of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, tweeted after resigning as the Youth and Sports Minister: "I have informed the secretary to the President of my resignation from all portfolios with immediate effect, in hope that it may assist HE & PMs decision to establish stability for the people & the govt of #LKA. I remain committed to my voters, my party & the people of #Hambanthota ."

Amid this, the protest in Colombo and elsewhere in the country continued against the government. Hundreds of students held a protest outside the Peradeniya University against the economic crisis.

The police had to bring in to control the mob with tear gas shells and using water cannons to disperse the protesters.

The students were openly violating the weekend curfew imposed by the government. Hundreds joined the march by Opposition leaders in capital Colombo before it was stopped near the home of opposition leader Sajith Premadasa by a large group of police and soldiers carrying assault rifles.

The Sri Lankan government on Saturday blocked access to all social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube, in its latest bid to quell protests against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.  However the ban was lifted on Sunday afternoon. The unrest  is likely to continue in Sri Lanka.