May 09, 2022 03:00 pm
Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's Prime Minister today offered his resignation over week long protest citing worst economic crisis.
A nationwide curfew was imposed and Army troops were deployed in the capital after pro-government groups attacked protesters outside embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office, leaving at least 23 people injured
The prime minister sent his letter of resignation to the president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa who is in turn the prime minister's younger brother.
Confirming in a tweet, the PM wrote, "Effective immediately I have tendered my resignation as Prime Minister to the President."
Earlier, the Sri Lankan authorities on Monday imposed a nationwide curfew and Army troops were deployed in the capital after pro-government groups attacked protesters outside embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office, leaving at least 78 people injured.
The violence occurred following reports that Mahinda Rajapaksa may offer to stand down as Prime Minister, as pressure mounted on the embattled government led by his younger brother and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to form an interim administration to overcome the worst economic crisis facing the country.
Curfew was imposed island wide with immediate effect until further notice, a police spokesperson was quoted as saying by the local media.
A military contingent was deployed to the protest site to assist law enforcement, after clashes between pro-government and protestors at MynaGoGama and GotaGoGama protest sites left 78 people injured.