Sri Lanka PM Mahinda Rajapaksa quits; ruling party MP dies in clashes

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on Monday as protests against the government over the country's economic crisis continued.

There had been speculation that Mahinda would step down this week as opposition protests against the Rajapaksa regime have continued unabated. Media reports said Mahinda had handed over his resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, his brother. According to News Wire, a local media outlet, he decided to resign following violence in Colombo involving supporters of his party, the SLPP.

News of Mahinda's resignation came after Army troops were deployed in the capital and a nationwide curfew was imposed.

Protesters have also been calling for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. News Wire reported “following several discussions among the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party (SLPP) and its constituents parties, the Prime Minister has decided to resign.”