Sri Lanka: Anti Govt Protesters Camp Outside PM Residence, Demand Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Arrest

Protestors camping near the PM residence are demanding the former PM’s arrest for alleged attack on Monday when clashes broke out between pro-government and anti-government protestors.  

Anti-government demonstrators take part in a protest near the President's office in Colombo on May 10, 2022

Source : AFP

New Delhi: Protests in Sri Lanka continue unabated as anti-government protestors camped outside the Prime Minister’s residence demanding arrest of former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. The protestors also allege a political deal between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and newly elected premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, reported news agency ANI. 

Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed as the new Prime Minister of the island nation following Mahinda Rajapaksa’s resignation on Monday. 

Clashes between pro-government and anti-government protestors on Monday turned violent as people burned down residences of several lawmakers and prominent public figures including that of Rajapaksa. Now, protestors camping near the PM residence are demanding the former PM’s arrest for alleged attack on Monday. 

"We do not trust Ranil Wickremesinghe as he is a family member and a very good friend of the Rajapaksa family, we never believe that he will do justice to the people, however, he has a chance to prove that he can do it (justice) to the people by arresting Rajapaksa and all these accused, if he does not take action against Rajapaksa, he will never let him do his job," quoted ANI as one of the protestors said.

"We want peace in the country, good economic stability of our country. We don't like party-politics at the moment, everybody wants justice," said another protestor quoted by the news agency. 

Dilapidated economic situation for the first time since its independence has led towards nationwide anti-incumbent protest in the island nation of Sri Lanka. The economic crisis is attributed to foreign exchange shortage compounded by decline in tourism due to Covid-19 and Sri Lankan government’s decision to ban chemical fertilisers in order to make country’s agriculture “100 percent organic”.