Channel: The Sun

Category: News & Politics

Tags: newsmahinda rajapaksaclashes broke out in colombopushing vehicles into waterhouses of at least two mayors were also set on fireprotesters toppling busesprotestanti governmentwater cannonsri lankan protesters torch leaders' homesburn housespolice using tear gasprotesterscolombosri lankathe sunpushing cars into riverpro-government supporters attackedfirebreaking newsviolence

Description: Local TV showed protesters toppling buses in the street and pushing vehicles into water during a day of chaos and violence in the Sri Lankan commercial capital Colombo on Monday. STORY: Footage broadcast on a Sri Lankan network also showed houses on fire. Sri Lanka's prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned after pro- and anti-government protesters clashed for the first time since an unprecedented wave of demonstrations took hold in late March. Pro-government supporters were attacked in at least four locations as they were returning from Colombo, media reported. The houses of at least two mayors were also set on fire, police sources told Reuters. Rajapaksa resigned to make way for a unity government that would try to find a way out of the country's worst economic crisis in history, but protesters said they also wanted his brother to stand down as president. His resignation came hours after clashes broke out in Colombo, where supporters of the ruling party stormed an anti-government protest camp and were beaten back by police using tear gas and water cannon. A nationwide curfew has been imposed, on top of the state of emergency that Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa - the prime minister's younger brother, referred to as Gota - declared last week in the face of escalating protests. The island nation of 22 million people has suffered prolonged power cuts and shortages of essentials, including fuel, cooking gas and medicines, and the government is left with as little as $50 million of useable foreign reserves. Sri Lankans have been taking to the streets in largely peaceful protests and demanding that the Rajapaksas step down. The Sun newspaper brings you the latest breaking news videos and explainers from the UK and around the world Become a Sun Subscriber and hit the bell to be the first to know Read The Sun: thesun.co.uk Like The Sun on Facebook: facebook.com/thesun Follow The Sun on Twitter: twitter.com/TheSun Subscribe to The Sun on Snapchat: snapchat.com/discover/The_Sun/1633225139