COLOMBO: Boos and heckles greeted Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday on his first public outing since nationwide protests erupted demanding his ruling family resign over the worsening economic crisis.
Months of blackouts and acute shortages of food, fuel and medicines have caused widespread suffering across the South Asian island in its worst economic downturn since independence in 1948.
On Sunday, the premier visited one of the holiest Buddhist temples -- housing a reputedly 2,300-year-old tree -- in Anuradhapura.
But dozens of people carried hand-written placards and chanted slogans demanding that "thieves" be banned from the sacred city, 200 kilometres (125 miles) north of Colombo.
"We will worship you if you stand down (as Prime Minister) and leave," one man shouted.
Heavily armed Special Task Force (STF) commandos were deployed while police moved to clear the road for Rajapaksa's convoy of six vehicles.
Officials said the premier returned to the capital by helicopter.
Several major roads in the country are blocked by people protesting the lack of cooking gas, petrol and diesel.
Meanwhile, Rajapaksa on Monday said he is ready to make "any sacrifice" for the people amidst reports that the Sri Lankan Prime Minister may offer to stand down, as pressure mounts on the embattled government led by his younger brother and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to form an interim administration to overcome the worst economic crisis facing the country.
Rajapaksa, 76, under intense pressure from within his own Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) ranks to resign, was gathering his supporters to apply counterpressure not to stand down.
His younger brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, though wanting his resignation had not directly conveyed his wish.
The President wants his resignation enabling him to go for a government of national unity, an interim arrangement till the present economic crisis could be dealt with, sources said.
"I am ready to make any sacrifice for the people," Lanka First, a leading news network in the country, quoted Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa as telling his supporters, indicating his intent to step down.
Mahinda Rajapaksa made these remarks on Monday during an event at Temple Trees, the official residence of the Prime Minister, as Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party's members gathered at his official residence to urge him not to step down.
"He may not offer direct resignation," Dayasiri Jayasekera, a ruling coalition dissident told PTI.
"What I feel is he would say I have no responsibility for the present crisis, so no reasons for me to resign," Jayasekera said, adding that he would put the ball on Gotabaya Rajapaksa's court as if to say sack me if you want.
Despite mounting pressure, Gotabaya, 72, and Prime Minister Mahinda have refused to quit office.
Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Rajapaksa clan strongman, faced public wrath on Sunday in the sacred city of Anuradhapura.
He was hooted and catcalled by the angry public who are on the streets demanding fuel, cooking gas and an end to power cuts.
The protesters want the entire Rajapaksa family to quit politics and return what they alleged stolen assets of the country.
The powerful Buddhist Clergy too had pressured the resignation of the prime minister and the Cabinet to pave the way for an interim government.
On Sunday, Sri Lanka's main Opposition SJB said that it has rejected an offer by embattled President Gotabaya to its leader Sajith Premadasa to head an interim government, amid continued political uncertainty in the country which is now under a state of emergency.
Jayasekera said the dissident group's 11 party alliance would hold further talks on Monday on ways to end the crisis.
He was hopeful of the interim government formation should Mahinda Rajapaksa resign.
The public protests gain momentum every day as petrol and gas queues get longer.
The prospect of extending the current number of hours for power cuts is also looming.
On Sunday, extensive talks were held in the initiative by the lawyers' body, Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL).
They advocate a unity government limited to a cabinet of 15 members for a period of 18 months during which a plethora of constitutional reforms is to take place.
In a special Cabinet meeting on Friday, President Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency with effect from Friday midnight.
This is the second emergency declared in just over a month.
The economic crisis is caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which has meant that the country cannot afford to pay for imports of staple foods and fuel, leading to acute shortages and very high prices.
Thousands of demonstrators have hit the streets across Sri Lanka since April 9, as the government ran out of money for vital imports; prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed and there are acute shortages in fuel, medicines and electricity supply.
(With PTI Inputs)