The prime minister of Sri Lanka, an Asian country of 22 million people, tendered his resignation on Monday amid protests over the worst economic crisis since the nation gained independence from Britain in 1948.
Mahinda Rajapaksa sent his resignation letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is also his younger brother, shortly after a curfew was imposed by security officials in an attempt to quell street protests. Part of the protesters called for the government to leave due to the failure of the economic agenda.
Hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, the island country is also living with rising fuel prices and was preparing for a virtual summit with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in an attempt to obtain emergency financial assistance.
Long lines to buy cooking gas in recent weeks have erupted into improvised protests, initially led by consumers dissatisfied with the economic situation who blocked roads. Energy companies said they are running low on gas inventories.
On Monday, government supporters attacked protesters during demonstrations in the country’s economic capital, Colombo, and clashed with police, who used tear gas and water cannons.
According to the police, government deputy Amarakeerthi Athukorala died amid the acts in the city of Nittambuwa. He allegedly shot and seriously wounded two people who were blocking the way of his car and was later found dead while trying to take refuge in a building near the scene.
The prime minister and the president, who declared a state of emergency last week for the second time in five weeks – without being able to control public discontent – called for calm from the population. Hundreds of people also gathered outside the prime minister’s official residence.
Pro-government protesters, according to Reuters, attacked opponents with iron bars and other artifacts during protests that began in March. At least nine people were taken to hospitals after being injured and inhaling tear gas.
The clashes took place mainly near the tents of the newly created Gota Go Gama movement, which, on its official website, defines itself as a platform run mostly by young people to demand an end to corruption and the resignation of the Rajapaksa government.
“We strongly condemn the recorded acts of violence, regardless of the political affiliation of those who carry them out,” President Rajapaksa wrote on social media. “Violence will not solve Sri Lanka’s current problems,” he added.
