Sri Lanka economic crisis: former & current cricketers appeal for unity, slam govt

As Sri Lanka is plunged into unrest triggered by one of its worst economic crisis in history, former and current cricketers from the island nation have issued an appeal for peace and unity on their social media platforms.

Sri Lankan and world cricket legend Sanath Jayasuriya posted an image of a woman protesting with her infant in one arm against the shortage of food, fuel and essential commodities in the country and wrote that the people of the country have suffered together silently for the past one month and everyone has a breaking point.

Referencing the protests outside the Sri Lankan President's house on Thursday, the former batter said that the demonstrations were a result of people's suffering and oppression. He also urged people to stand together as 'one people'.

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Former Lankan captain Roshan Mohanama took to Twitter and wrote that he is sad to see the state of his country which is on the brink of an economic depression, caused by its 'incompetent power-hungry rulers.'

He also posted an appeal for Sri Lankans to set aside religion, race, political parties, beliefs and stand as one nation.

Wanindu Hasaranga, who currently plays for Sri Lanka, blamed party politics for the fall of the island nation and echoed the call of unity made by his Jayasuriya and Mahanama.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksha late on Friday declared emergency in country as the protests against him and demands for his resignation intensified.