The decision came on a day supporters of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa attacked anti-government demonstrators in the city of Colombo.
Under pressure to resign over Sri Lanka’s worsening economic crisis, which has triggered protests across the island nation, Mahinda Rajapaksa, the country’s prime minister, stood down on Monday, news agency ANI reported citing local media.
Also Read | Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa likely to resign: Report
The decision came on a day supporters of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa–Mahinda’s younger brother–attacked anti-government demonstrators in Colombo, leaving at least 78 people injured. “While emotions are running high in #Ika, I urge our general public to exercise restraint & remember that violence only begets violence. The economic crisis we’re in needs an economic solution which this administration is committed to resolving,” he had said in a tweet shortly after the violence.
Also Read | ‘Goons, thugs’: Ex-Sri Lanka cricketers slam Rajapaksas after Colombo clashes
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