Amid violence, Sri Lanka PM Mahinda Rajapaksa hands over resignation

Colombo: Amidst violent clashes and unrest in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday resigned from his post. He handed over his resignation to President and his younger brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Mahinda Rajapaksa’s resignation following violent clash between pro-Rajapaska supporters and anti-government protesters which has injured over 100. The violence started when pro-government protesters attacked the ant-government protesters who had occupied entrance to the President’s Office and Prime Minister’s residence for nearly a month demanding the government to step down.

Pro-Rajapaksa supporters met Mahinda Rajapaksa in the morning and insisted he not step down. They later armed themselves with clubs and attacked the anti-government protesters who had been in front of PM’s house first and burnt the huts. Later, they marched to the main anti-government protest site near President’s House and attacked the protesters there too.

Main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, who visited the site, too was attacked by pro-Rajapaksa supporters.

However as the attackers who were going back in buses, public on various locations attacked them and some of them were thrown into rivers.

As the violence was continuing, curfew was imposed across the entire island.

Soon after, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie J. Chung, in a tweet, condemned the violence in Colombo.

“We condemn the violence against peaceful protesters today, and call on the government to conduct a full investigation, including the arrest & prosecution of anyone who incited violence. Our sympathies are with those injured today and we urge calm and restraint across the island,” the Ambassador said.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and PM Mahinda Rajapaksa too later tweeted condemning the violence.

Condemning the attack, doctors at all government hospitals are to stay away from work on Tuesday.

With severe shortages of many essentials including food, medicine, fuel and cooking gas, people have been protesting on the streets for months and on Friday, trade unions, both private and government, launched a major strike demanding both President and PM Rajapaksa to resign. Trade unions have given an ultimatum to the government to resign before Wednesday.

Main opposition have filed two no-confidence motions to remove the President and the PM and they are to be fixed for voting.

(IANS)

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