New Delhi: Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday tendered his resignation amid the country’s worst economic crisis as anti-government protests turned violent after Rajapska’s supporters assaulted the agitators. The prime minitser is the elder brother of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The violent clash between pro-Rajapaksa supporters and anti-government protesters left over 100 injured. The violence started when pro-government protesters attacked the anti-government protesters who had occupied the entrance to the President`s Office and Prime Minister`s residence for nearly a month demanding the government to step down. It has also been reported that the opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, who visited the protest site, too was attacked by pro-Rajapaksa supporters. However, as the attackers were going back in buses, the public in various locations attacked them and some of them were thrown into rivers.


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As the violence was continuing, a curfew was imposed across the entire island. Here are key updates on the Sri Lanka crisis.


  • Amarakeerthi Athukorala, Sri Lankan parliamentarian of the ruling party Rajapakasas and his personal security officer were killed on Monday in clashes between anti- and pro-government protesters in the country.
  • A curfew has been imposed across Sri Lanka after clashes between pro and anti-government supporters in Colombo and elsewhere, the Daily Mirror reported.
  • At least two Cabinet ministers have also announced their resignations ever since.
  • Police had formed a line of personnel ahead of time on the main road leading towards the site but did little to stop pro-government protesters from advancing, according to a Reuters witness.
  •  US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie J. Chung, in a tweet, condemned the violence in Colombo. "We condemn the violence against peaceful protesters today, and call on the government to conduct a full investigation,” she wrote.

(With agency inputs)