New Delhi: As Sri Lanka battles one of the worst economic crisis, clashes across several parts of the country Tuesday left eight people dead. Over 200 have also been injured after supporters of former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa attacked peaceful anti-government protesters demanding his ouster over food shortage and power crisis, reported news agency PTI.
Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, resigned from his position Monday amid heightened protests against the government and failure to handle the economic crisis. Hours after Rajapaksa resigned, his supporters attacked anti-government protesters, forcing the authorities to impose nationwide curfew.
According to PTI, homes of several politicians, including the ancestral home of the Rajapaksas was attacked by protesters. Video footages that emerged after the incident, showed the house of Mahinda Rajapaksa and his younger brother and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Hambantota city set ablaze.
A memorial constructed in the memory Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa's father D A Rajapaksa in Medamulana, Hambantota was also set on fire.
As the situation worsened and people resorted to vandalism, the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry Monday ordered its Armed forces to open fire at anyone destroying or looting public property or causing harm to others.
"Security forces have been ordered to shoot on sight anyone looting public property or causing harm to life,” the ministry said as reported by news agency AFP.
Protests in Sri Lnaka have been taking place since April 9. Demonstrators across the country have been demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya and his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa after the government failed to handle skyrocketing prices of food and essential commodities. Since the independence of Sri Lanka in 1948, the country is facing the biggest economic crisis ever.