According to the news agency AFP, a legislator from Sri Lanka’s ruling party, Amarakeerthi Athukorala, was found dead outside the capital Colombo on Monday after a battle with anti-government protesters, while dozens were injured elsewhere in the country.
Athukorala allegedly opened fire in Nittambuwa, critically injuring two individuals who were blocking his car, and was later discovered dead after attempting to flee to a nearby building.
The news comes as Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa announced his resignation in the midst of the country’s worst economic crisis since independence, which has sparked huge protests.
The prime minister’s younger brother is President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who requested earlier to the PM to resign following a major protest amid the country’s severe economic crisis.
However, “the prime minister has sent the president his letter of resignation,” an official stated on condition of anonymity.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Mr Rajapaksa’s younger brother, had received his letter of resignation, paving the door for a “new unity administration.”
