Sri Lanka’s anti-government protesters clashed with police in the capital Colombo, the death toll rose to seven, including two lawmakers.Figure: Retrieved from Twitter
On the evening of the 9th local time, the Sri Lankan Presidential Secretariat issued a communiqué confirming that Mahinda Rajapikesa resigned as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, effective immediately. On the same day, supporters of Mahinda clashed with anti-government protesters in the capital Colombo. The death toll from the clashes rose to seven, including two MPs.
To quell the riots, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defense issued a “Shooting Order”, which ordered the armed forces to open fire on anyone who looted public property or caused harm to others.
On the 9th, bloody clashes occurred in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. According to previous reports, the clashes on the 9th killed 5 people, including a member of Congress, and injured regarding 200. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa announced his resignation on the same day, as protesters demanded President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned, protests and clashes continued.
Some people stormed Mahinda Rajapaksa’s house in Kuru Negra County, North West Province and the Prime Minister’s Office, and protesters set fire to Rajapaksa’s ancestral house in Hambantota Port, part of Congress Houses of MPs and former ministers were also set on fire.
After Mahinda’s resignation, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapikesa has invited all political parties to form a government of national unity to address current socio-economic and political issues, according to local media reports. The “Indian Express” said on the 10th that Sri Lanka’s main opposition party, the leader of the United National Forces, Sajit Premadasa has made it clear that he does not want to form a government jointly with the current ruling Popular Front Party (SLPP) and does not want to be responsible to the president.
On the 10th, the whole country of Sri Lanka was under curfew, and social order had basically returned to normal, but there were few cars and pedestrians on the road. Police and soldiers were deployed at important intersections to conduct inspections. Cleaned up and no protesters gathered here.
On the evening of the 9th local time, the Sri Lankan Presidential Secretariat issued a communiqué confirming that Mahinda Rajapikesa resigned as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, effective immediately. On the same day, supporters of Mahinda clashed with anti-government protesters in the capital Colombo. The death toll from the clashes rose to seven, including two MPs.
People in Sri Lanka frequently launched protests.Photo: Dazhi Image/Associated Press
