Mahinda Rajapaksa

Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned Monday, his spokesman said, shortly after violent clashes between his supporters and anti-government protesters left 78 people wounded.

The 76-year-old sent his letter of resignation to his younger brother President Gotabaya Rajapaksa clearing the way for a "new unity government", spokesman Rohan Weliwita said.

protests,

Sri Lanka's president offered to share power with the opposition yesterday as protests escalated across the country demanding his resignation over worsening shortages of food, fuel, and medicines.

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa's attempt to stage a comeback in Sri Lanka's general election has ended in defeat as results on August 18 showed the alliance that toppled him making decisive gains.