Sri Lanka: Protests worsen as Minister's house set on fire, SLPP party office destroyed

In Sri Lanka, chaos intensified as anti-government protestors set fire to houses and offices of numerous leers including ruling party SLPP politicians on Monday. This comes after supporters of government attacked anti-government protesters at Galle Face Green, which injured 23 people, as per Sri Lankan media reports. After supporters of government attacked protestors, violence erupted in Sri Lanka amid a crippling economic crisis.

media reports suggest that anti-government protesters set fire to home of MP Sanath Nishantha, who led a group to attack Galle Face protesters. His home was completely destroyed by fire as seen in videos shared on social media. 

Minister Ramesh Pathirana's house was also set on fire as a plume of smoke was seen over his house. Former Minister Johnston Fernando's Kurunegala party office was also completely destroyed by fire. Enraged protestors set fire to vehicles of lawmakers from Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

Apart from this, former minister Johnston Fernando's Kurunegala party office was also completely destroyed.

This comes just hours after an MP and his personal security officer were killed in conflict between two groups of protestors in Sri Lanka. People in several regions of country targeted Rajapaksa's supporters and leers of government and attacked m as a result of violence in Galle Face Green. 

Following an attack by government supporters, authorities deployed armed forces in capital, Colombo on Monday, according to media reports.  police used tear gas and water cannon and imposed an immediate curfew in Colombo.

Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns

Earlier, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned after weeks of rallies calling for him and his bror, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to quit amid country's worst economic crisis in deces.

Since March, country has been devastated by economic instability, and citizens of country have been calling for leers to resign. In meanwhile, Sajith Premasa, leer of opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), stated that he will not take job of Prime Minister on an interim basis.

Image: AP