Sri Lanka PM resigns amidst economic crisis

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on Monday, hours after anti-government protesters and supporters clashed in Sri Lanka. Two cabinet ministers have also announced their resignations. At least 130 people are reported to have been injured in the clashes outside the presidential office. Ruling party MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his personal security officer (PSO) were killed in a shootout in the northwestern town of Nittambuwa. In view of the situation nationwide curfew has been implemented. Army has been deployed in the national capital Colombo. The leave of the policemen has been cancelled. The three armies have been asked to assist the police.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Prime Minister have condemned the violence and appealed to the people to maintain peace. Mahinda (76) himself gave information about submitting his resignation to President Gotabaya by tweeting. Gotabaya is his younger brother. He said in his resignation that he was leaving his post to pave the way for the formation of an all-party interim government.

Sri Lanka has been reeling under severe recession for more than a month. The prices of food items in the country are touching the sky. The foreign revenue of the government has been exhausted and it is proving to be incapable of handling the economy. All the ministers of the government have resigned from their posts. People are protesting against the government on the streets. Despite the imposition of emergency in the country, people are protesting fiercely against the government. Almost all the labor and business organizations of the country have gone on strike demanding the resignation of the President and the Prime Minister.