Sri Lanka's PM Resigns After Months Of Unrest Over Economic Crisis

Sri Lanka's prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, has resigned after months of protests over the country's deepening economic crisis, as once-peaceful rallies turned violent and at least five people were killed.

- Hannah Ellis-Petersen

Turmoil began to engulf the country yesterday following violence at a major protest site in Colombo, where pro-government supporters attacked demonstrators and police responded with teargas and water cannon.

Anti-government protesters, who had been largely peaceful, began retaliating across the country. Houses and vehicles belonging to pro-Rajapaksa politicians, as well as Rajapaksa's residence, were set on fire. A nationwide curfew was imposed but five were killed and almost 200 injured in the clashes.

In one incident just outside of Colombo, a politician from the ruling party opened fire on anti-government protesters blocking his car, killing a 27-year-old man, and then later took his own life. According to police, another ruling party politician opened fire on protesters in the southern town of Weeraketiya, killing two and wounding five.