Sri Lanka crisis live updates | Speaker asks President to reconvene Parliament this week

Eight people were killed and more than 200 injured in violent clashes in Sri Lanka that prompted Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to resign on Monday.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, resigned as Sri Lankan Prime Minister on May 9 amid unprecedented economic turmoil, hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protestors, prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy Army troops in the capital.

Mr. Rajapaksa is facing calls for his arrest from Opposition politicians for inciting violence against peaceful anti-government protestors that claimed at least eight lives, left more than 200 people injured and saw arson attacks on the homes of several politicians.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is to meet with the leaders of political parties represented in Parliament in order to set up a government, sources have claimed. Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeyawardena has also said that he had called a meeting of party leaders to discuss the business of House for its reconvening.

Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker on Tuesday requested embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to reconvene the House this week to discuss the current situation amid unprecedented violence and widespread protest against the government over the country’ worst economic crisis in decades.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeyawardena said he had telephoned President Gotabaya Rajapaksa with his request.

Parliamentary officials said the President will be required to reconvene Parliament ahead of its scheduled date of May 17 as there is no Prime Minister and government currently.

A protest began in front of Sri Lanka’s Trincomalee Naval Base after reports emerged that former Prime Minister Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa and some of his family members were there after leaving the official residence Temple Trees in Colombo, the Daily Mirror newspaper said.