Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s residence in the city of Kurunegala in the north-western province was set on fire on Monday, hours after the leader tendered his resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, as the country goes through an intensified civil strife amid a crippling economic crisis.
Here are the top updates:
- As clashes erupted between Sri Lanka’s ruling party and anti-government protesters, a senior legislator died, while several sustained injuries, police have informed.
- Protesters set on fire the official residences of Sri Lanka’s Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando and the MPs Sanath Nishantha, Ramesh Pathirana, and Nimal Lanza.
- A large number of protesters including the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) were out on streets and attacked the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MPs. Even some Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) offices were set ablaze, Daily Mirror reported.
- The developments come even as nationwide protests against the government have intensified over the past few days resulting in an increase in incidents of clashes with the security forces deployed at protest sites.
- Earlier, Prime Minister Rajapaksa tendered his resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and has recommended the formation of an all-party interim government in his letter.
- Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since independence with food and fuel shortages, soaring prices and power cuts affecting a large number of the citizens, resulting in massive protests over the government’s handling of the situation.
(With ANI Inputs)