Sri Lanka’s prime minister resigns

Mahinda Rajapaksa, brother of President Gotabaya, resigned amid another horrific day for Sri Lanka. Violence reportedly broke out after his supporters attacked the headquarters of the protest movement. About 80 people have been wounded, with one death, an MP.

Colombo (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, brother of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, announced his resignation on Twitter today.

This comes on another day of tensions and clashes in Colombo, scene for weeks of anti-government protests caused by an economic crisis that has brought the country to its knees.

Although the prime minister’s decision to quit topped the list of demand of protesters, the very tense situation will make it hard for anyone to form a government of national unity.

After last Friday’s general strike (hartal), which was followed by hundreds of trade unions in all sectors, President Rajapaksa’s response was to impose once again a state of emergency, as of Saturday. However, violent clashes continued this morning near the presidential compound.

Despite the state of emergency, groups of supporters linked to Rajapaksa attacked the tents protesters set up when they started their movement weeks ago to demand the president and his administration resign.

An MP with the ruling party was killed in the clashes, AFP reported. About 80 people were reportedly treated in hospitals.

Before submitting his resignation, Mahinda Rajapaksa tweeted, “I urge our general public to exercise restraint & remember that violence only begets violence. The economic crisis we’re in needs an economic solution which this administration is committed to resolving.”

In a counter-tweet, former Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara wrote, “The only violence was perpetrated by your ‘supporters’ – goons and thugs who came to your office first before going on to assault the peaceful protestors.”

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• mahinda
• gotabaya
• rajapaksa
• resignation
• crisis
• protests
• clashes
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