Shoot at sight orders in Sri Lanka as protests proceed regardless of PM’s resignation

Deaths. Arson. Nationwide curfew. Sri Lanka has witnessed unprecedented violence over the previous two days because the protest over the nation’s financial disaster continues. Mahinda Rajapaksa, who resigned as Sri Lankan Prime Minister on Monday, is dealing with requires arrest for inciting violence that claimed not less than eight lives.

The supporters of Mahinda Rajapaksa attacked the anti-government protesters demanding his ouster over Sri Lanka’s worst financial disaster that has led to acute shortages of meals, gasoline and medicines and extended energy cuts.

Mahinda Rajapaksa lastly give up from his submit on Monday, however violence erupted within the island nation quickly after his resignation.

#EXCLUSIVE | Statue of #MahindaRajapaksa’s father taken down; stories say ex-PM flees island nation #SriLanka. #7at7 with @PreetiChoudhry pic.twitter.com/UVKWr2GZ2D

— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) May 10, 2022

The Sri Lankan protection ministry has introduced shoot-on-sight orders to quell riots, as per a report by AFP.

Here’s all that has occurred in crisis-hit Sri Lanka:

PM Rajapaksa resigns, Sri Lanka imposes nationwide curfew

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on Monday following unprecedented anti-government protests demanding his ouster in addition to the administration led by his youthful brother and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over the nation’s worst financial disaster.

Mahinda’s resignation got here hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters exterior President Gotabaya’s workplace, leaving round 173 individuals injured and triggering widespread violence in opposition to pro-Rajapaksa politicians. At least 4 individuals, together with a ruling get together MP, had been killed within the subsequent violence.

After Rajapaksa’s resignation, violence erupted throughout the nation. Monday’s violence triggered widespread anger, with individuals singling out Rajapaksa supporters and attacking them in lots of components of the nation.

Vehicles owned by pro-government supporters had been dumped in a lake in Colombo. (Image: Reuters)

As per the police, 5 individuals died within the violence within the nation on Monday. The Rajapaksa household’s ancestral dwelling in Hambantota was additionally set on hearth by protesters.

The authorities imposed a nationwide curfew and deployed military troops within the capital Colombo.

Burnt automobiles of pro-government supporters had been set on hearth in the course of the clashes that erupted in Colombo. (Image: Reuters)

Calls for ex-PM Rajapaksa’s arrest

Mahinda Rajapaksa is dealing with requires his arrest from Opposition politicians for inciting violence in opposition to peaceable anti-government protesters. He has been accused of inciting the ruling get together mobs to assault peaceable protesters by making a defiant speech whereas addressing a number of 1000’s of his supporters to deflect requires his resignation.

“Rajapaksa (Mahinda) have to be arrested and introduced earlier than the legislation,” M A Sumanthiran, the main Tamil legislator, said in a message.

Ex-PM Rajapaksa take shelter at naval base

Mahinda Rajapaksa, along with his family, fled his official residence and took shelter at a naval base in Trincomalee on Tuesday.

Pro- and anti-government supporters clash in Colombo. (Photo :AP)

Mahinda Rajapaksa left his official Temple Trees residence early on Tuesday morning even as a mob tried to enter the premises. Throughout the night on Monday, the police fired teargas shells to dissuade mobs trying to enter the former PM’s residence.

On Tuesday, a protest began in front of Sri Lanka’s Trincomalee Naval Base after reports emerged that Mahinda Rajapaksa and some of his family members were there after leaving the official residence in Colombo.

Protesters set up checkpoints

The anti-government protesters have reportedly set up a checkpoint on the road leading to the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo to prevent the Rajapaksa family loyalists from fleeing the country.

“Large group of individuals have arrange a checkpoint on the highway resulting in the Katunayake Airport. They are attempting to forestall ruling faction loyalists from fleeing the nation,” as per report by News 1st channel .

President urges people to stop ‘violence and acts of revenge’

On Tuesday, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa urged people to stop “violence and acts of revenge” against fellow citizens and vowed to address the political and economic crisis facing the nation.

Sri Lanka’s pro government supporters vandalise the camps of anti government protestors outside the president’s office in Colombo. (Image: AP)

“I attraction and urge individuals to stay calm & cease violence & acts of revenge in opposition to residents, no matter political affiliations. All efforts will probably be made to revive political stability by consensus, inside constitutional mandate & to resolve financial disaster,” President Gotabaya tweeted in his first comments since the outbreak of the violence that saw arson attacks on the homes of several former ministers and politicians.

I attraction and urge individuals to stay calm & cease violence & acts of revenge in opposition to residents, no matter political affiliations.

All efforts will probably be made to revive political stability by consensus, inside constitutional mandate & to resolve financial disaster.

— Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) May 10, 2022

WHAT WAS THE STARTING POINT OF PROTEST?

Sri Lanka is struggling to remain afloat amid the deepening financial disaster with the island nation on the point of chapter, with almost USD 7 billion of its complete USD 25 billion in overseas debt due for compensation this 12 months.

A extreme scarcity of overseas trade means the nation lacks the cash to purchase imported items. People have endured months of shortages of necessities like meals, cooking gasoline, gasoline, and medication, and lining up for hours to purchase the very restricted shares out there.

In April, Sri Lankans, who’re blaming the federal government for the worst financial disaster since its Independence in 1948, marched alongside darkish streets and gathered exterior President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s home in capital Colombo to stage a protest. They even tried to storm his residence however had been stopped by armed troopers.

The protest has continued over the previous month because the nation’s economic system swiftly unraveled in latest weeks.

(With inputs from PTI, AP)