Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa defies calls for his resignation

Sri Lanka's president will not be resigning, his government's whip has told parliament.

The declaration defies calls from the public and political opponents for Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down as the country is in economic crisis.

Crowds have protested for weeks over lengthy power cuts and shortages of gas, food and other basic goods.

The public anger has prompted nearly all Cabinet ministers to quit, and scores of MPs to leave his government.