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Monday, May 09, 2022, 16:07
Sri Lankan PM resigns amid violent protests
By Xinhua
Monday, May 09, 2022, 16:07 By Xinhua

In this file photo dated Aug 9, 2020, Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa signs documents during his swearing-in ceremony at the sacred Kelaniya Raja Maha Buddhist temple, outside the capital Colombo. (ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP)

COLOMBO - Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stepped down on Monday as violent protests broke out in the capital between his supporters and anti-government people.

Officials from the government said the prime minister had handed in his resignation letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday afternoon.

Following the prime minister's resignation, several cabinet ministers including the health minister also tendered their resignations, officials said.

During the day, a curfew was imposed in violent clashes among protesters and nearly 80 people have been hospitalized, according to the Colombo National Hospital. 

On Monday morning, pro-government protesters held a demonstration opposite the Temple Trees, the official residence of prime minister, urging the prime minister not to resign.

Also on Monday, Sri Lanka's leading liquefied petroleum gas supplier Litro Gas Lanka Limited on Monday said that they are unable to supply gas to domestic consumers until new stocks arrive

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Following their meeting with the prime minister, they clashed with anti-government protesters near the Temple Trees.

Sri Lanka has been plunged in weeks of economic crisis stemming from a foreign exchange shortage which has led to a shortage in essential supplies such as fuel, food and medicines.

Protests have been ongoing for days calling on the government and lawmakers to find urgent solutions.

Also on Monday, Sri Lanka's leading liquefied petroleum gas supplier Litro Gas Lanka Limited on Monday said that they are unable to supply gas to domestic consumers until new stocks arrive.

READ MORE: IMF urges Sri Lanka to tighten monetary policy amid debt woes

Litro Gas chairman Vijitha Herath said only industrial gas stocks are available at the moment and the company asked people not to wait in queues.

Herath said that they expect to pay $7 million on Monday to import liquefied petroleum gas on Friday and Saturday.


Sri Lankans queue up at a fuel station to buy kerosene in Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 12, 2022. (ERANGA JAYAWARDENA / AP)


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