Sri Lanka Descends To Anarchy: PM Rajapaksa's Ancestral Home Set On Fire, Residences Of Several Ruling Party Members Torched

‘Medamulana Walawwa’, the ancestral home of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in the city of Kurunegala in the north-western province, was set on fire late Monday (May 9) evening, hours after the leader submitted his resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Following Mahinda Rajapaksa's resignation, an armed mob supporting the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) attacked anti-government protesters outside Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office, leaving at least 130 people injured and prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy army troops in the capital.

Several videos emerged from the vicinity of Temple Trees (the official residence of the Prime Minister) that showed supporters of Mahinda Rajapaksa beating up the protesters.

As television channels and social media provided uninterrupted coverage of the mob attack by ruling party members on protestors, violent clashes erupted in Colombo, its suburbs and several other parts of the country. Anti-government protesters set on fire the official residences of Sri Lanka's Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando, Kurunegala Mayor Thushara Sanjeewa. and the MPs Sanath Nishantha, Ramesh Pathirana, Mahipala Herath, Thissa Kuttiarachchi and Nimal Lanza.

The house of MP Sanath Nishantha, who was seen with the SLPP members at the Galle Face attack on protestors, was set on fire. Protesters also orched the residence of Kurunegala Mayor Thushara Sanjeewa.

Ruling Party MP Takes His Own Life

According to initial reports, MP Athukorala opened fire and critically wounded three anti-government protestors who were blocking his car on the Colombo-Kandy highway near the town of Nittambuwa. One of them died out of injuries inflicted by the gunshot. Three others were injured in the incident and later admitted to the Wathupitiywala Base Hospital in Nittambuwa.

CCTV footage from area showed MP Athukorla running for safety and taking shelter in a nearby building.

Thousands of protestors then surrounded the building, and MP Athukorla then took his own life with his revolver. His personal security officer is also reportedly dead.

Sri Lanka is currently facing its worst economic crisis since independence with food and fuel shortages, soaring prices and power cuts affecting a large number of the citizens, resulting in massive protests over the government's handling of the situation.