Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned yesterday after mass protests continued since last month as the economic crisis deepened in Sri Lanka. However, the waters in the country did not calm down.
Sri Lankans attacked by Rajapaksa supporters, in turn, burned some houses belonging to the former prime minister and his deputies, who had not yet left his official residence.
It has been reported that more than 190 people were injured and seven lives were lost in the events that took place since yesterday.
Despite the prime minister’s resignation, protesters are calling for his brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to step down as well.
Protests were held in the country, calling for the resignation of the government and the president, due to the increasing prices since last month, the problems in the supply of basic needs such as food, oil, medicine, and daily power cuts.
Sri Lanka is facing the most severe economic crisis since 1948 when it gained independence from Britain.
DEPUTY DEPUTY OPEN FIRE ON TWO PEOPLE AND SUICIDE
Violent clashes broke out between government supporters and protesters outside Mahinda Rajapaksa’s residence in the capital, Colombo, yesterday, and the events spilled onto the main streets.
Law enforcement responded with tear gas and water cannon to supporters of Rajapaksa, who broke through the police barricade and attacked the protesters with sticks.
Protesters also escalated violence against pro-government and government party lawmakers. Sri Lankan police reported that a lawmaker from the government party opened fire on people surrounding his car, shooting two people and then killing himself.
The crowd targeted the residences of Rajapaksa and some MPs during the night. Police fired into the air to disperse the crowd and responded with tear gas.
There were posts showing houses in flames on social media.
The official residence of the President also caught fire, and a city council member whose home was attacked died in the hospital.
The former prime minister left Colombo this morning for an undetected area.
Meanwhile, tensions are high in different parts of Colombo. Barricades were set up on airport roads.