Explainer: What has led to the violence and protests in Sri Lanka?

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SINGAPORE — Sri Lanka has been in a state of chaos since Monday (May 9), after government supporters attacked unarmed protestors calling for the resignation of president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 72, as the nation battles its worst economic crisis in decades.

on Monday of Mr Rajapaksa's brother, prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, the less powerful of the siblings, who have dominated Sri Lankan politics for nearly two decades. But for now, his younger brother is refusing to step down.

Things turned violent on Monday after government supporters, armed with sticks and clubs, attacked protesters who were camping outside the president's office at Galle Face in Colombo. Three people including a member of parliament from the ruling party, Amarakeerthi Athukorala were killed that day. The resignation of the older Rajapaksa as prime minister hours after the clashes broke out has done little to calm the anger over the economic crisis.

Analysts say that economic mismanagement by successive governments weakened Sri Lanka's public finances, leaving national expenditure in excess of its income and the production of goods and services at inadequate levels, Reuters reported. The plunge in tourism revenue has contributed to a steep drop in foreign reserves, needed to pay off national debt, forcing the government to ban the import of many essential goods such as fuel and medicine.

 

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