Sri Lanka: Ex-PM, family flee to naval base amid lethal protests
Colombo, May 10: As lethal protests continue amid the economic crisis, Sri Lanka's former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family have taken shelter at a naval base in Trincomalee, according to media reports.
After receiving the information about the ex-PM and his family members taking shelter there after leaving the official residence in Colombo, a protest began in front of Sri Lanka’s Trincomalee Naval Base, media reported.
As per the reports, Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family were flown in a helicopter to the naval base.
The ex-PM had to be rescued in a pre-dawn operation by the military on Monday after thousands of anti-government protesters poured into his official residence in Colombo overnight, prompting police to fire tear gas and warning shots to keep back the crowd.
The development comes after Sri Lanka deployed thousands of troops and police to enforce a curfew on Monday after five people were killed in the violence. Nearly 200 people were also wounded as Rajapaksa resigned.
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"At least 10 petrol bombs were thrown into the compound," said media reports.
On Monday, arson attacks were carried out on the residences of many politicians, including the Rajapaksas' ancestral home in Hambantota.
The entire house of Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in Medamulana, Hambantota, was set afire.
Protesters also set fire to Mahinda Rajapaksa's house in Kurunegala, and a mob demolished the D A Rajapaksa Memorial in Medamulana, Hambantota, which was built in remembrance of Mahinda and Gotabaya's father.
Notably, Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as prime minister on Monday amid an unprecedented economic crisis. Hours before his resignation, Mahinda Rajapaksa's supporters attacked anti-government protesters, prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy Army troops in the capital.
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-PTC News
