Sri Lanka extends curfew after PM resigns

COLOMBO－A nationwide curfew imposed in Sri Lanka on Monday was in effect until Wednesday morning, after Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on Monday.

Rajapaksa said on Monday that he has resigned from the post after violent protests broke out in the capital between his supporters and anti-government demonstrators.

In an official message posted on Twitter, he wrote that he tendered his resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa with immediate effect.

Soon after the prime minister's resignation, some cabinet ministers including the health minister also presented their resignations to the president.

Sri Lanka's Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Tuesday asked the president to reconvene parliament, and to find a solution to the political instability.

Meanwhile, a nationwide curfew has been imposed on Monday till Tuesday, but was later extended to Wednesday morning after violence erupted in front of the prime minister's office.

On Monday morning, pro-government protesters held a demonstration opposite Temple Trees, the official residence of the prime minister, urging him not to resign.

Following their meeting with the prime minister, they clashed with anti-government protesters near Temple Trees.

Seven people, including a ruling party lawmaker, died in the violence. At least 200 people were reportedly injured in the violent clashes that erupted in Colombo.

Sri Lanka has been plunged into weeks of economic crisis stemming from a foreign exchange shortage which has led to a shortage in essential supplies such as fuel, food and medicines.

Agencies - Xinhua