Ancestral home of Rajapaksas burnt by protesters, several homes of ruling party MPs attacked

Colombo, May 9: The ancestral home of the Rajapaksas in Medamulana in Hambantota was set on fire by a group of protestors late on Monday evening. The houses of several Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs have also been attacked or set on fire. Video footage showed the ancestral house of the Rajapaksas burning as protestors cheered and hooted. Meanwhile, the police fired gunshots in the air outside Temple Trees, the residence of former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, as a group of protestors attempted to enter the residence by breaking open the gates which are heavily guarded. The protestors were gathered there since evening and continued to stay in the area despite being hit by several rounds of tear gas. The development comes hours after Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as Prime Minister amid spiralling nationwide protests against the Rajapaksas. The violence comes as the curfew which was imposed on the entire country from 7.00 pm today to 7.00 am on Tuesday, has been extended until 7.00 am on Wednesday (May 11), the Presidential Media Division announced. It said that no person is allowed to be on any public road, railway, public park, public recreation ground or other public ground or the seashore except under the authority of a written permit granted by an authorised officer. The houses of North Central province chief minister – Maheepala Herath and his son – Kanaka Herath, have been set on fire by protesters. Earlier in the evening, houses and offices of several SLPP MPs had come under the attack of mobs and some were torched. The D.R. Rajapaksa memorial in Madamulana, Hambanthota has been destroyed by protestors. Earlier, President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka had stated, “The BASL will take every possible step to ensure that people who launched today’s violence at Galle Face will dealt with according to law. We appeal to the people to remain calm until then.” (UNI)   {pic courtesy – DW.com}