Mahinda Rajapaksa: Sri Lankan PM resigns amid economic crisis
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has resigned amid mass protests at the government’s handling of a deepening economic crisis.
The move came as the island was placed under curfew after violent clashes between Rajapaksa supporters and anti-government protesters in Colombo.
Five people have died, including a ruling party MP, and more than 190 injured in violence in the capital.
There have been protests over soaring prices and power cuts since last month.
The island nation is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from Britain in 1948.
Mr Rajapaksa, 76, sent his resignation letter to his younger brother President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, saying he hoped it would help resolve the crisis, but the move is highly unlikely to satisfy government opponents while the latter remains in power.
In a nation facing a crisis of economic uncertainty, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s resignation was no surprise. There had been days of speculation he’d go – after reports his brother had told him he needed to quit.
In the last few days Mahinda Rajapaksa held on, with the view that as the more popular of the brothers, he shouldn’t be the one to go – but in the end he was.
Before he said goodbye, he addressed his loyal supporters at a rally in the morning – some of them were later seen attacking anti-government protesters.
As news of the PM’s departure reached Colombo’s seafront promenade, Galle Face Green, demonstrators danced with glee. For weeks they’ve been demanding the Rajapaksa family, which has ruled on and off for decades, resign.
But this is seen as just a partial victory – their real target is the president. He shows no signs of quitting, which means the protests will continue.
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