Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed a 17-member cabinet amidst protests calling for his resignation.

Rajapaksa, who had previously dismissed members of his cabinet, had initially called on the opposition to form a new government. The opposition had refused Rajapaksa's invitation to form a coalition government, leading him to re-appoint a number of his party members to cabinet.

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing its worst economic crisis caused in part by lack of foreign currency. The fuel, food, and medicine shortages has led to public anger and protests against the current administration.

Peaceful protests have been ongoing in Colombo since early April, and similar protests have sprung up in various other parts of the country as well.