Sri Lanka PM Resigns as Curfew Imposed Amid Violence
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on Monday, May 9, as a nationwide curfew was put in place after violence in the capital, Colombo.
The Daily Mirror said that 157 people had been admitted to Colombo National Hospital after clashes involving pro- and anti-government groups and police.
Video filmed by Rehan Jayawickreme shows protesters in Colombo.
Some cabinet ministers resigned following the announcement that Rajapaksa would be stepping down.
“While emotions are running high, I urge our general public to exercise restraint & remember that violence only begets violence. The economic crisis we’re in needs an economic solution which this administration is committed to resolving,” Rajapaksa tweeted shortly before stepping down. Credit: Rehan Jayawickreme via Storyful
Video Transcript
REHAN JAYAWICKREME: --my apartment watching with absolute disgust at the way these goons are behaving. Some of them even try to go into Kriskat. Now they are walking towards Gota-Go-Gama. Now it's clearly evident why the president put this godforsaken emergency law.
I'm asking the Sri Lankan police what the-- in simple English, what the F are you all doing? When there are NT Union Federation people protesting, you all bloody treat them with tear gas. When there are SJB people, you all treat them with tear gas. When there are JVP people, you treat them with tear gas. So what the royal F are you all doing?
Is this the kind-- the police is supposed to look after the general public, not look after the bloody well-being of these bloody rotten politicians. Do you see even one policeman being aggressive towards the protesters here? What a bloody shame, a shame, a shame to be a citizen of this country, a shame right now to be born into this country.
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
