Alasdair Pa and Uditha Jasinghe

COLOMBO, (Reuters) – Thousands rallied in Colombo on Sunday for the opposition Sri Lankan parties after weeks of political and economic turmoil that had not abated.

The tax cut and pandemic that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa implemented to Sri Lanka’s economy were devastating.

The country of 22 million inhabitants has lost its foreign currency reserves, leaving it struggling to purchase fuel, food, and medicines. This led thousands of people to protest daily and sometimes even turn violent.

Opposition parties ended their weeklong march starting from Kandy’s central city. Supporters poured into Colombo’s Independence Square.

Many wore Sri Lankan flags on their heads and had headbands that read “Gota go Home,” one of the most popular rallying calls of the protests.

Many people are struggling due to the high price of fuel and food. Sunil Shantha, an 58-year old university lecturer said that he voted Rajapaksa in the recent presidential elections.

“Gotabaya has failed as a president.”

Rajapaksa, who was the victim of mass resignations in his cabinet early this month, now faces the possibility that he will be defeated by a confidence vote later in the week.

His elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa is Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. He refused to resign and instead called for a unity government under the presidency – an offer that the opposition denies.

Rajapaksa tweeted on Sunday, “I once more invite all political parties in Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka), to reach a consensus for the people.”

“It is my sincere hope to call upon the people for a pro–people struggle that transcends political divides.