Protesters in Sri Lanka set fire to multiple residences belonging to members of the ruling Rajapaksa family and lawmakers, marking a violent escalation in demonstrations against the government's economic management. The attacks followed the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who stepped down after weeks of mass protests over soaring living costs and energy shortages.
Clashes between demonstrators and government supporters turned deadly on Monday, with five reported fatalities and over 190 injured. An island-wide curfew was extended to Wednesday as authorities struggled to contain the unrest. Despite Rajapaksa's departure, protesters continued demanding the resignation of his brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, whose administration faces widespread blame for the crisis.
Violence erupted in Colombo as government supporters clashed with protesters outside Rajapaksa's official residence and at the Galle Face Green protest site. Police used tear gas and water cannons against rioters who breached security lines, while demonstrators retaliated by attacking pro-government figures. A ruling party MP shot two people during a mob attack on his vehicle before taking his own life, according to local authorities.
The unrest spread beyond the capital, with mobs targeting properties in the Rajapaksa family's ancestral village of Hambantota, including a controversial museum. Social media footage showed burning homes and cheering crowds as the crisis deepened. Protests also reached areas near the president's official residence, where demonstrators attempted to breach security and set fire to a vehicle.
Sri Lanka's economic collapse, the worst since its 1948 independence, has left citizens unable to afford basic necessities. Foreign currency reserves have dwindled, crippling access to food, medicine, and fuel. While the government attributes the crisis to pandemic-related tourism losses, critics cite years of economic mismanagement as the root cause.
