Sri Lanka Crisis: Shoot-at-sight orders issued as protest intensifies

Sri Lanka Economic Crisis 2022: The authorities in Sri Lanka issued shoot-at-sight orders on May 10, 2022, to control the unrest that saw buildings and vehicles set ablaze a day after the resignation of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa which was followed by deadly violence and riots. 

With thousands of security forces enforcing a curfew, the defence ministry announced that the troops have been ordered to shoot on sight anyone looting the public property or causing harm to life. 

However, the protests continued on May 10 despite the curfew, with some people defying the shoot on sight order to torch buildings and vehicles. 

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned from his position amid the ongoing economic crisis in the country. The news of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s resignation was announced in the local media of the country. Until now, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had defied the calls for their resignation even as the unrest and protests against the government intensified in Sri Lanka. 

As Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned from the position, the Health Minister of Sri Lanka Prof Channa Jayasumana also handed over his letter of resignation to the President of the country. 

Mahinda Rajapaksa's resignation from the post has come days after President Gotbaya Rajapaksa in a special meeting requested the PM to step down as a solution to the ongoing political and economic crisis in Sri Lanka. 

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns: Local media#SriLanka

(file pic) pic.twitter.com/PWAkZGGVms

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2022

Sri Lanka Crisis: Violent crashes and curfew as Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns

On the morning of May 9, 2022, the protestors held a demonstration opposite the Temple Trees, the official residence of the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa urging him not to resign. 

However, following their meeting with Mahinda Rajapaksa, the pro-government protestors clashed with anti-government protestors near the Temple Trees. 16 people sustained injuries and they have been admitted to Colombo National Hospital. 

The Government of Sri Lanka further imposed a nationwide curfew and also deployed the army troops in Colombo, the Capital of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka PM Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns: What next?

Now that the PM Mahinda Rajapaksa has resigned from the position, the President of Sri Lanka Gotbaya Rajapaksa is expected to invite all the political parties in the Parliament to form an all-party cabinet. 

Earlier, the opposition party in Sri Lanka Samagi Jana Balawegaya had confirmed that its leader Sajith Premadasa will not accept the Prime Minister's position in an interim, Government.

What is happening in Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka has been plunged into the weeks of economic crisis rising from a Foreign Exchange shortage which led to a shortage in essential supplies such as food, fuel, and medicines. 

The protests in Sri Lanka against the government have been ongoing for days calling on the Government and the lawmakers to find urgent solutions to the economic crisis. 

Sri Lankan Crisis 2022: Why is Sri Lanka facing food, fuel & electricity shortage? Curfew in Colombo lifted