Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has resigned amid mass protests against the country's economic crisis.
The prime minister's decision comes as a curfew was imposed in the capital, Colombo, following clashes between pro- and anti-government protesters.
At least 78 people were injured in the violence, according to a local hospital.
Protests against inflation and power outages have been going on in Sri Lanka since last month.
According to a spokesman for the 76-year-old Raja Paksha, he has tendered his resignation to President Gotabaya Raja Paksha.
President Gotabhaya Raja Paksha is the brother of Prime Minister Mahinda Raja Paksha.
Sri Lanka is facing its biggest economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. The government has requested immediate financial assistance.
Most Sri Lankans want Gotabaya Raja Paksha to step down.
A state of emergency was declared last week following violent protests outside the president's residence.
Protesters set up barricades near President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's private residence in Colombo and set vehicles on fire. After which the army was deployed and the authority to arrest suspects without a warrant was given.
Sri Lanka is facing a major economic crisis, partly due to a shortage of foreign exchange reserves.
With a population of over 20 million in the Indian Ocean, the country faces massive power outages, fuel shortages, food shortages and medicines, which has led to growing public anger against the government.
It may be recalled that the protest started peacefully outside the house of President Rajapaksa on April 28, but the participants said that the police fired tear gas, water cannons and beat the people present there after which the situation turned violent. Protesters hurled stones at police during the protest.
At least two dozen police officers were injured in the clashes, Reuters news agency quoted an official as saying. More than 5,000 people took to the streets in the capital, Colombo, and marched on the home of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
On the night of April 28, thousands of people marched on the house of Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa and demanded his resignation due to the ongoing economic crisis in the country. The protesters included several unidentified social media workers.
Protesters set fire to tires and blocked the capital's main highway. Violent protests erupted, with protesters setting fire to two army buses and a jeep and hurling stones at police.
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