Sri Lanka’s ex-prime minister left his official residence Tuesday after the army prevented several attempts by anti-government protesters to break in overnight.

Police said the army fired warning shots and used tear gas to keep protesters away from the official residence, known as Temple Trees, in the capital Colombo.

Protesters also completely burnt down more than 70 houses and offices of former ministers and ruling party lawmakers. Over 150 vehicles were also burnt or damaged.

Prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stepped down on Monday after supporters of the ruling Sri Lanka People’s Front party (SLPP) clashed with protesters in Colombo.

The protesters had been camped outside the office of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for a month, calling for both the president and prime minister, who are brothers, to resign.

Attacks on anti-government protesters drew widespread outrage against the ruling SLPP politicians and their supporters.

Attacks on their residences, business establishments and vehicles followed.

Police said since Monday, there had been six deaths and more than 200 hospitalisations related to the clashes.

The country’s defence ministry had put a curfew in place and asked people to stay home, with exceptions only for essential workers.

On Tuesday, members of parliament were scheduled to meet and name a new prime minister and cabinet of ministers.

Sri Lanka, an island state of some 22 million people, was facing an economic crisis and shortages of fuel, food and medicine.

The government hoped to restructure the country’s huge debts and was in talks with the International Monetary Fund and seeking further financial help from China and India. 

(dpa/NAN)