Sri Lanka Crisis: 8 Dead, Curfew Extended Till Wednesday — Here’s What Happened So Far

The island nation is going through its worst economic crisis ever which has led to months-long protests as people suffer from an acute shortage of basic necessities like food, fuel, and medicines.

Protestors set ablaze a bus outside Rajapaksa's residence ( Image Source :AFP )

New Delhi: Sri Lanka’s protests turned violent after Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on Monday. Following his resignation, the supporters of the Rajapaksa family hit the roads resulting in a clash with the protestors. The island nation is going through its worst economic crisis ever which has led to months-long protests as people suffer from an acute shortage of basic necessities like food, fuel, and medicines.

Here is what has happened in Sri Lanka so far:

• Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as the prime minister of the island nation on Monday morning. There has been no update on whether the resignation has been accepted yet or not.
• After his resignation, the anti-Rajapaksa protestors set ablaze the homes of Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa including many other MPs and Ministers.
• The clashes have led to eight casualties including MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala, and over 200 people have been injured so far.
• The police have imposed a nationwide curfew until Wednesday, in order to maintain the law and order situation in the island nation.
• The protestors torched a bus outside Mahinda Rajapaksa’s residence. Along with that, the ancestral home of the Rajapaksa family was also set on fire by the angry protestors.
• Main Opposition of Sri Lanka, SJB has refused to lead any interim government with any member of the Rajapaksa family. Thousands of troops have been deployed in Sri Lanka after the violent protests.
• Opposition calls for Mahinda Rajapaksa’s arrest for inciting violence against peaceful protestors.
• The cabinet currently stands dissolved until an interim government is formed. The Opposition has urged for the reconvening of the Parliament before the scheduled date of May 17.
• A state of emergency is imposed on the island nation, and the troops have been given special powers to arrest.