Sri Lanka PM Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns; dozens injured in violent clashes, curfew imposed

Colombo: Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday resigned as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka amid an unprecedented economic crisis, media reports said.

It follows calls by tens of thousands of protesters across the country who want both President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his elder brother-cum-Prime Minister to go over the failed economy.

The President had only days ago reportedly asked the Prime Minister to step down. Mahinda Rajapaksa had earlier refused to give up his post.

Curfew imposed in Sri Lanka after tensions

A curfew was imposed by the police in Sri Lanka on Monday after tensions arose following clashes between protesters in Colombo.

On Monday morning, pro-government protesters held a demonstration opposite the Temple Trees, the official residence of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa asking him not to resign. Following their meeting with the Prime Minister, they clashed with anti-government protesters near the Temple Trees. At least 16 people who sustained injuries have been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital.

Sri Lanka has been plunged in weeks of economic crisis stemming from a foreign exchange shortage which has led to shortages in essential supplies such as fuel, food and medicines.

Protests have been ongoing for days calling on the government and lawmakers to find urgent solutions.

Earlier, in the early hours of Monday, the second son and Chief of Staff of PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, Yoshitha Rajapaksa and his wife left the country, even as violence spiralled amid the political uncertainty in the island nation.

According to Daily Mirror, Yoshitha and his wife left for Singapore. (Inputs from UNI)