A curfew is in force across Sri Lanka after mobs burned down homes belonging to the ruling Rajapaksa family amid mounting anger at the economic crisis.
The overnight violence capped a day of unrest that saw PM Mahinda Rajapaksa quit, but this failed to bring calm.
Crowds besieged his residence and he was evacuated in a pre-dawn operation amid tear gas and warning shots.
Protests are continuing despite the curfew. Seven people have died and 200 have been injured since Monday.
The island-wide curfew has been extended to Wednesday morning as authorities seek to quell the violence.
The streets of the capital are empty but evidence of last night’s violence is everywhere – buses thrown into the lake, others with windows smashed out and tyres still burning. There is a heavy police presence outside the PM’s house, where there were scenes of chaos hours before.
At Galle Face Green on the sea front protesters continue to gather. Some say they were injured by pro-government mobs. Lawyers acting for the protesters told the BBC they’re filing cases against supporters of the prime minister.
Officials say a senior policeman is receiving hospital treatment after being assaulted by two men in Colombo who accused him of failing to prevent the attacks on anti-government protesters.
In the north-east, protesters gathered in front of Trincomalee Naval Base after unconfirmed reports that Mahinda Rajapaksa had gone there with family members after escaping from his Colombo residence.
More than 50 houses of politicians were burned overnight, reports say. Crowds remain outside the office of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, brother of Mahinda, calling on him to quit.
BBC
