New Delhi: Hours after Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa submitted his resignation, his home in Kurunegala, in the north-western region of Sri Lanka, was set on fire on Monday, news agency ANI reported.
The country is currently struggling with increased civil unrest and a devastating economic crisis.
Anti-government demonstrators set fire to the homes of Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando and MPs Sanath Nishantha, Ramesh Pathirana, Mahipala Herath, Thissa Kuttiarachchi, and Nimal Lanza earlier today.
Many demonstrators, including members of the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF), rushed to the streets and attacked Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MPs. According to the Daily Mirror, certain Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) offices were set on fire.
Furthermore, local police said that two individuals were shot dead and five others were injured at the home of the Chairman of the Weeraketiya Pradeshiya Sabha.
The events come as the Prime Minister has submitted his resignation and urged for the establishment of an interim all-party cabinet to deal with the country's ongoing economic crisis.
Despite an island-wide curfew, the military has been deployed on the roadways to ensure peace, according to the Daily Mirror.
The developments come as widespread anti-government rallies have grown in intensity in recent days, resulting in an upsurge in conflicts with security personnel stationed at protest locations.
During violent battles at the Galle Face demonstration site on Monday, more over a hundred demonstrators were injured, prompting a statewide curfew throughout the country.
Before resigning from his post, Mahinda Rajapaksa said, “While emotions are running high in #lka, I urge our general public to exercise restraint and remember that violence only begets violence. The economic crisis we’re in needs an economic solution which this administration is committed to resolving."
Food and fuel shortages, skyrocketing prices, and power outages are hurting a huge number of Sri Lankans, leading in massive protests against the government's handling of the situation.
Foreign exchange shortages caused by a drop in tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as imprudent economic measures, such as the government's decision last year to restrict artificial fertilisers in an attempt to make Sri Lanka's agriculture "100% organic," are blamed for the crisis.
Sri Lanka has defaulted on its entire foreign debt of roughly USD 51 billion due to a severe scarcity of foreign money.
The economic condition has sparked widespread protests, with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa being called to quit.
(With ANI Inputs)