Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa reportedly resigned on Monday following anti-government protests across the island nation. This comes days after President Gotbaya Rajapaksa asked the PM's resignation in a special meeting as a solution to the country's ongoing political crisis.
President Rajapaksa is anticipated to call all political parties in Parliament to create an all-party Cabinet now that the Prime Minister has resigned.
A curfew has been imposed across Sri Lanka after supporters of the country's ruling party stormed a major demonstration site in Colombo, attacking anti-government protesters and clashing with police who used tear gas and water cannon to repress them.
In the island's worst economic crisis since independence, Sri Lankans have endured months of blackouts and severe shortages of food, fuel, and medicines, provoking weeks of overwhelmingly nonviolent anti-government rallies. However, clashes erupted in Colombo on Monday between opponents and supporters of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Police used tear gas and water cannon and proclaimed an instant curfew in Colombo, which was eventually extended to the entire 22-million-strong South Asian island nation.
Bangladesh sends emergency medical supplies to Sri Lanka
Economic crisis Sri Lanka: TN Govt Extends more Funds
Sri Lankan Prez Rajapaksa willing to form all-party govt after PM, Cabinet resign