Sri Lanka: The capital Colombo is quiet again after the clash that left 7 people dead

After this violence, Prime Minister Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa had to resign.

The deadly clash comes as this Indian Ocean nation is facing a war Economic Crisis worst in the country’s history. Thousands of protesters defied the curfew, attacked government officials, and set fire to the homes, shops and businesses of ruling party lawmakers and provincial politicians.

“The situation has calmed down now, although there are still reports of sporadic unrest,” said Sri Lankan police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa.

It is known that 7 people were killed and about 200 injured when violence broke out across Sri Lanka, prompting the island nation to impose a curfew until 7am on May 11.

No arrests have been made in connection with the violence, which resulted in three deaths from gunshot wounds, a police spokesman said.

The retaliatory attacks on government officials came just hours before the resignation of Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Rajapaksa.

On May 9, Rajapaksa spoke to hundreds of supporters gathered at his residence following reports that he was considering resigning.

Burned cars in Colombo a day after violent clashes on May 9. (Photo: AP)

According to eyewitnesses, Sri Lankan police sprayed water cannons and tear gas to disperse the violent protesters, after unsuccessful attempts to contain them.

Thousands of people poured into the streets to celebrate after the resignation of Prime Minister Rajapaksa. Protesters tried to demolish the gates of Temple Trees, the official residence of Prime Minister Rajapaksa in central Colombo. Broken glass and shoes littered the surrounding streets on May 10 after some of the worst clashes of the night.

The Sri Lankan army patrolled the area, where eight vehicles burned and sank in the lake. Discarded documents, smashed equipment and littered in the ransacked offices of government officials.

Sri Lanka’s unprecedented economic crisis comes after the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on tourism’s main income, leaving the country struggling with rising oil prices and government tax cuts. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, younger brother of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

After the currency devaluation, Sri Lanka asked multilateral lending institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund for support.

Former Finance Minister Ali Sabry, who resigned on May 9, along with the rest of Prime Minister Rajapaksa’s cabinet, said the country’s usable foreign exchange reserves were only at a level 50 million USD.

Shortages of fuel, food and medicine have led thousands of people to take to the streets in Sri Lanka for more than a month.

* Invite readers to watch the programs broadcast by Vietnam Television on TV Online and VTVGo!