Protesters arrange checkpoint on highway resulting in airport to stop Rajapaksa loyalists from fleeing Sri Lanka

Anti-government protesters in Sri Lanka on Tuesday arrange a checkpoint on the highway resulting in the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo to stop the Rajapaksa household loyalists from fleeing the nation, as violence and widespread protest continued towards the regime over the nation’s worst financial disaster in a long time.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, resigned as prime minister on Monday amid unprecedented financial turmoil, hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters, prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy Army troops within the capital. The assault triggered widespread violence towards pro-Rajapaksa politicians.

“Large group of people have set up a checkpoint on the road leading to the Katunayake Airport. They are trying to prevent ruling faction loyalists from fleeing the country,” News 1st channel reported.

The Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo is domestically often known as Katunayake Airport.

Mahinda, alongside along with his spouse and household, fled his official residence – Temple Trees – and took shelter at a naval base in Trincomalee – a port metropolis on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka.

Throughout the night time on Monday, the police fired teargas shells to quell mobs attempting to enter the Temple Trees residence. In the early hours of Tuesday, police fired tear fuel and warning photographs to carry again mobs as safety forces moved Mahinda and his household out of his official residence.

A protest has begun in entrance of the Trincomalee Naval Base after stories that Mahinda and a few of his relations are there after leaving Temple Trees.

On Monday, protesters attacked the ancestral residence of the Rajapaksas in Hambantota, the homes of 14 former ministers, 18 lawmakers, together with former Deputy Speaker, and leaders loyal to the Rajapaksa household.

Meanwhile, the variety of individuals injured in latest clashes has risen to 249, whereas 7 have been killed in the identical, hospital sources mentioned.

A Spokesperson for the National Hospital acknowledged that 232 individuals injured within the clashes have been admitted to the hospital for therapy up to now.

Five of the injured are at present receiving therapy on the Intensive Care Unit.

Sri Lanka is dealing with its worst financial disaster since gaining independence from Britain in 1948.

The disaster is prompted partially by an absence of overseas forex, which has meant that the nation can’t afford to pay for imports of staple meals and gas, resulting in acute shortages and really excessive costs.

Thousands of demonstrators have hit the streets throughout Sri Lanka since April 9 searching for resignation of President Gotabaya and Prime Minister Mahinda, as the federal government ran out of cash for important imports; costs of important commodities have skyrocketed and there are acute shortages in gas, medicines and electrical energy provide.