In Pics: Sri Lanka enforces curfew after 5 killed in violence

<p>Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's home in Kurunegala, in the country's northwestern area, was set on fire just hours after he submitted his resignation.</p>

<p>Increased civic unrest and a crippling economic crisis are currently plaguing the country.</p>

<p>Sanath Nishantha, Ramesh Pathirana, Mahipala Herath, Thissa Kuttiarachchi, and Nimal Lanza, Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando, and MPs Sanath Nishantha, Ramesh Pathirana, Mahipala Herath, Thissa Kuttiarachchi, and Nimal Lanza many people came to the streets, including members of the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF), and assaulted Sri Lanka's Podujana Peramuna MPs. Certain Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) offices were set on fire, according to the Daily Mirror.</p>

<p>Furthermore, two people were shot dead and five others were injured at the home of the Chairman of the Weeraketiya Pradeshiya Sabha, according to local authorities.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Gravitas: How Mahinda Rajapaksa became a political liability</strong></p>

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<p>The events occur as the Prime Minister has resigned and called for the formation of an interim all-party administration to address the country's severe economic crisis.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bar-association-of-sri-lanka-expresses-grave-concern-on-the-state-of-emergency-477068" hreflang="en">Bar Association of Sri Lanka expresses 'grave concern' on the state of emergency</a></strong></p>

<p>The military has been deployed on the roads to maintain peace despite an island-wide curfew.</p>

<p>The developments come as anti-government protests have intensified in recent days, leading to an increase in clashes with security forces stationed at protest sites.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-crisis-eu-to-provide-humanitarian-funding-bangladesh-provides-medical-supplies-477132" hreflang="en">Sri Lanka crisis: EU to provide humanitarian funding; Bangladesh provides medical supplies</a></strong></p>

<p>More than a hundred demonstrators were injured during violent clashes at the Galle Face demonstration location on Monday, triggering a countrywide curfew across the country.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's home in Kurunegala, in the country's northwestern area, was set on fire just hours after he submitted his resignation.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's home in Kurunegala, in the country's northwestern area, was set on fire just hours after he submitted his resignation. Increased civic unrest and a crippling economic crisis are currently plaguing the country. Sanath Nishantha, Ramesh Pathirana, Mahipala Herath, Thissa Kuttiarachchi, and Nimal Lanza, Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando, and MPs Sanath Nishantha, Ramesh Pathirana, Mahipala Herath, Thissa Kuttiarachchi, and Nimal Lanza many people came to the streets, including members of the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF), and assaulted Sri Lanka's Podujana Peramuna MPs. Certain Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) offices were set on fire, according to the Daily Mirror. Furthermore, two people were shot dead and five others were injured at the home of the Chairman of the Weeraketiya Pradeshiya Sabha, according to local authorities. Watch | Gravitas: How Mahinda Rajapaksa became a political liability The events occur as the Prime Minister has resigned and called for the formation of an interim all-party administration to address the country's severe economic crisis. Also read | Bar Association of Sri Lanka expresses 'grave concern' on the state of emergency The military has been deployed on the roads to maintain peace despite an island-wide curfew. The developments come as anti-government protests have intensified in recent days, leading to an increase in clashes with security forces stationed at protest sites. Also read | Sri Lanka crisis: EU to provide humanitarian funding; Bangladesh provides medical supplies More than a hundred demonstrators were injured during violent clashes at the Galle Face demonstration location on Monday, triggering a countrywide curfew across the country. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Sri Lanka economic crisis: Mahinda Rajapaksa's residence set on fire, nationwide curfew imposed

There is an uneasy calm on the streets of Colombo today after Sri Lanka saw an unprecedented violence across the country on Monday after PM Mahinda Rajapaksa's resignation. Heavily armed troops evacuated the outgoing Sri Lankan PM from his official residence in Colombo after protestors reportedly breached the main gate

Sri Lanka Crisis: Outgoing PM Mahinda's house torched in night of unrest

Sri Lanka Crisis: Anger simmers despite PM Mahinda Rajapaksa's resignation

<p>Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday (May 9th) announced that he'll be stepping down from his post.</p>

<p>This comes amid countrywide protests and public calls for him and his brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to quit as the country's economic situation worsens.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Sri Lanka Political Crisis: Final announcement on PM Mahinda Rajapaksa's resignation today</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sri-lanka-political-crisis-final-announcement-on-pm-mahinda-rajapaksas-resignation-today-477574/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sri Lankan Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/PresRajapaksa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PresRajapaksa</a> resigns after weeks of anti-government protest. <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WIONews</a> accesses the letter of resignation, putting to rest all speculation. <a href="https://t.co/eOImRrhlZ3">pic.twitter.com/eOImRrhlZ3</a></p>
— Palki Sharma (@palkisu) <a href="https://twitter.com/palkisu/status/1523619487647379456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>As per a Reuters report citing unnamed sources, "The prime minister has sent his letter of resignation to the president."</p>

<p>The 76-year-old delivered his letter of resignation to his younger brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, paving the way for a "new unity government," according to spokesperson Rohan Weliwita.</p>

<p>Months of blackouts, as well as acute food, fuel, and medical shortages, have wreaked havoc on the South Asian island, which is going through its worst economic downturn since 1948.</p>
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<p>The country has been facing this economic crisis since 2019, but the coronavirus pandemic exasperated the hardship manyfold. It is mainly attributed to economic mismanagement by its incumbent government.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bar-association-of-sri-lanka-expresses-grave-concern-on-the-state-of-emergency-477068" hreflang="en">Bar Association of Sri Lanka expresses 'grave concern' on the state of emergency</a></strong></p>

<p>In April, the country declared default on its $51 billion foreign debt.</p>

<p>Over the past week, there have been reports that owing to the widespread protests in the country, PM Mahinda has been asked to step down by his brother, President.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-crisis-eu-to-provide-humanitarian-funding-bangladesh-provides-medical-supplies-477132" hreflang="en">Sri Lanka crisis: EU to provide humanitarian funding; Bangladesh provides medical supplies</a></strong></p>

<p>However, the Prime Minister continued to deny the reports, insisting that no such request had been made and refused to resign.</p>

<p>Now, according to reports, the Prime Minister has decided to resign from his position after multiple meetings among the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party (SLPP) and its member parties.</p>

<p><strong>Watch WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday (May 9th) announced that he'll be stepping down from his post. This comes amid countrywide protests and public calls for him and his brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to quit as the country's economic situation worsens.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday (May 9th) announced that he'll be stepping down from his post. This comes amid countrywide protests and public calls for him and his brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to quit as the country's economic situation worsens. Watch | Sri Lanka Political Crisis: Final announcement on PM Mahinda Rajapaksa's resignation today Sri Lankan Prime Minister @PresRajapaksa resigns after weeks of anti-government protest. @WIONews accesses the letter of resignation, putting to rest all speculation. pic.twitter.com/eOImRrhlZ3 — Palki Sharma (@palkisu) May 9, 2022 × As per a Reuters report citing unnamed sources, "The prime minister has sent his letter of resignation to the president." The 76-year-old delivered his letter of resignation to his younger brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, paving the way for a "new unity government," according to spokesperson Rohan Weliwita. Months of blackouts, as well as acute food, fuel, and medical shortages, have wreaked havoc on the South Asian island, which is going through its worst economic downturn since 1948. The country has been facing this economic crisis since 2019, but the coronavirus pandemic exasperated the hardship manyfold. It is mainly attributed to economic mismanagement by its incumbent government. Also read | Bar Association of Sri Lanka expresses 'grave concern' on the state of emergency In April, the country declared default on its $51 billion foreign debt. Over the past week, there have been reports that owing to the widespread protests in the country, PM Mahinda has been asked to step down by his brother, President. Also read | Sri Lanka crisis: EU to provide humanitarian funding; Bangladesh provides medical supplies However, the Prime Minister continued to deny the reports, insisting that no such request had been made and refused to resign. Now, according to reports, the Prime Minister has decided to resign from his position after multiple meetings among the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party (SLPP) and its member parties. Watch WION LIVE HERE: (With inputs from agencies)

Sri Lanka economic crisis: PM Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns as pressure mounts up