SRI LANKA PM QUITS; NATION LOCKED DOWN
Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned hours after his supporters attacked anti-govt protesters, leaving at least 130 people injured
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on Monday amid unprecedented economic turmoil, hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office, leaving at least 130 people injured and prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy army troops in the capital.
Prime Minister Mahinda, 76, sent his resignation to President Gotabaya after violent scenes were witnessed
in Colombo. “Effective immediately I have tendered my resignation as prime minister to the President,” Mahinda tweeted.
Prime Minister Mahinda in his resignation letter said that he is stepping down to pave the way for the all-party interim government to be formed. “I write to inform you that I have decided to resign from the post of prime minister with immediate effect. This is in line with your request made at the special cabinet meeting held on May 6, wherein you said that you intend to set up an all party interim government,” he wrote in his resignation letter.
He said that he will be “ready to make any sacrifice even in the future in order to help the people and the government overcome the present crisis.” At least two Cabinet ministers have also announced their resignations.
The violence occurred as pressure mounted on the embattled government led by his younger brother and President Gotabaya to form an interim administration to overcome the worst economic crisis facing the country. Curfew was imposed islandwide with immediate effect until further notice, a police spokesperson was quoted as saying by the local media.
A military contingent was deployed to the protest site to assist law enforcement after clashes between pro-government and protestors at MynaGoGama and GotaGoGama protest sites left around 130 people injured.
The defence secretary has urged public support to maintain peace in the country, while three-armed forces have been called in to assist police for public security. Leave for all police personnel was cancelled until further notice. Sri Lanka is currently in the throes of unprecedented economic turmoil since its independence from Britain in 1948. The crisis is caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which has meant that the country cannot afford to pay for imports of staple foods and fuel, leading to acute shortages and very high prices. Thousands of demonstrators have hit the streets across Sri Lanka since April 9 seeking resignation of President Gotabaya and Prime Minister Mahinda, as the government ran out of money for vital imports; prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed and there are acute shortages in fuel, medicines and electricity supply.