Subhechcha Ganguly 
Sri Lanka prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had to be rescued by heavily armed troops from his official residence in Colombo this morning after thousands of protesters stormed the main gates. Protesters then tried to force their way into ‘Temple Trees’ – the two-storey colonial-era building that serves as the Lankan PM’s home and where his family and he were sheltering.
Rajapaksa is facing calls for his arrest from Opposition politicians for inciting violence against peaceful anti-government protesters that claimed at least five lives, left over 200 people injured and saw arson attacks on the homes of several politicians.
Hours after he resigned from his post, the ancestral home of the Rajapaksas at Medamulana in Hambantota was set on fire by a group of protesters. Video footage circulating on social media showed the entire house up in flames as the protesters hooted away. The Army is expected to take the control of the situation.
Police and riot squads were deployed, and tear gas and water cannons were fired at government supporters after they breached police lines and attacked protesters using sticks and poles. Angry demonstrators retaliated, attacking government supporters and targeting ruling party MPs, including one who shot two people after a mob swarmed his car and then killed himself, according to Sri Lankan police.As the night went on, mobs of protesters across the country torched houses belonging to the Rajapaksas, various ministers and MPs.
By Anisha Ganguly
