Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns; curfew imposed following violence

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has resigned over popular protests in the country. Earlier, Rajapaksa loyalists had launched attacks against an anti-government protest site in the commercial capital city of Colombo. Mahinda supporters had also attacked the opposition leader, who was present at the site. Following which, a nation-wide curfew was imposed in the island. Troops have been deployed at the site of violence.

Amid the ongoing economic and political crises, the government had reportedly imposed a state of emergency in Sri Lanka hoping to pressure Mahinda Rajapaksa to step down. Reports had earlier suggested that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had himself asked Mahinda Rajapaksa to resign in a special cabinet meeting chaired by Gotabaya Rajapaksa, on Friday.

With a few ministers extending support, Mahinda had earlier said that he was ready to resign and that his resignation would be announced on Monday, reported certain Sri Lankan media, citing officials at a cabinet meeting. It is learnt that Gotabaya had said that the prime minister and the government can no longer hold on overcoming the anger of the people.

Mahinda loyalists had staged protests in the capital while the citizens were awaiting the news of their prime minister’s resignation. Around 20 people have sustained injuries in the clashes.