<span style="color: #222222;">Amid rising protests in Sri Lanka over the unprecedented economic crisis, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has said the Government is ready to hold discussions with the protesting youth.<br />''<br />''A spokesperson from the Prime Minister's office confirmed that if the protesting youth agree, the government is ready to meet and discuss the ongoing crisis situation.  The youth are demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya and his entire family members from the government.<br />''<br />''There have been continuing protests across the country, blaming the government for its mishandling of the forex crisis which led to severe shortages of essentials.<br />''<br />''Meanwhile, President Gotabaya has defended his government's actions and said, the foreign exchange crisis was not his making and the economic downturn was largely pandemic driven as the nation's tourism revenue and inward remittances waned.</span><br />