Colombo: Angry mobs in Sri Lanka have burnt down several homes belonging to the ruling Rajapaksas and MPs, following clashes with government supporters.
The violence capped a day of unrest that saw PM Mahinda Rajapaksa quit amid mass protests at his government’s handling of the economic crisis.
But it failed to assuage demonstrators, who attempted to storm his official residence while he was holed up inside. Five people have died and more than 190 have been injured since Monday.An island-wide curfew has been extended to Wednesday morning as authorities seek to quell the violence.
Many are still calling for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, brother of Mahinda, to leave office, following weeks of escalating demonstrations over soaring prices and power cuts since last month.
The ancestral home of the Rajapaksa family in the southern district of Hambantota was set on fire while local reports said demonstrators also tried to storm the prime minister’s residence in Colombo’s Temple Trees neighborhood.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who once blamed international factors for the crisis, is said to be more isolated amid the fast developments.
Leader of opposition Sajith Premadasa in a tweet said: We are very capable of defending ourselves against state sponsored violence but we must not forget we are also capable of compassion.The future generations are watching how we choose to express our anger. Non-violence is the only true and acceptable path.
Sri Lankan stocks have been one of the worst performers in the world this year, according to a Bloomberg report.
A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this week started work with officials in Colombo over a bailout that will include a tough package of reforms as well as financial support. But as the IMF and its sister organisation, the World Bank, know full well, this is about more than the mismanagement of an individual country.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Airlines urged passengers to produce their air ticket and passport at checkpoints to reach Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) after authorities imposed nationwide curfew and deployed the Army in Colombo following clashes between pro- and anti-government protesters amidst the political turmoil in the island nation.
In view of the prevailing situation in Sri Lanka, passengers departing Colombo can produce their air ticket and passport to the security personnel at checkpoints to reach BIA, SriLankan Airlines, the country’s flag carrier, tweeted, assuring travellers, especially foreigners who visit the picturesque island nation.
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.