Sri Lanka: two MPs from the Rajapaksa party arrested in connection with the recent violence

Sri Lankan police have arrested two MPs from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's party in connection with last week's violence that left nine people dead and more than two hundred injured, police said on Wednesday (May 18th).

Read alsoSri Lanka is almost out of gas

Sri Lankan MPs Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPP), the president's party, were questioned by crime squad investigators on Tuesday evening and held overnight, a police official said.

“

,” added the policeman.

The MPs were among 22 politicians, including ex-prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his son Namal, whose passports were seized last week after complaints were brought against them for inciting violence.

Nine dead in violent clashes

On May 9, several thousand supporters of the Rajapaksa clan were bussed from rural areas to Colombo to the residence of Mahinda Rajapaksa, hours before his resignation.

The latter had promised them to “

”.

His galvanized supporters then attacked the camps of demonstrators who have been demanding the departure of President Rajapaksa since April 9.

These attacks had degenerated into violent clashes that left nine dead, at least 225 injured and countless damages.

According to police, some 500 people were arrested in connection with the clashes.

Read alsoIn Sri Lanka, violence has succeeded to hope

The country of 22 million people is facing its worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948, suffering for months from shortages of essential goods, long daily power cuts and record inflation.

The president on Thursday appointed Ranil Wickremesinghe, an opposition politician, as prime minister.

Ranil Wickremesinghe has won the crucial support of the two main opposition parties to form a "

" which must focus on restoring the crumbling economy.

Four ministers have already been sworn in on Saturday, all from the SLPP.

According to official sources Ranil Wickremesinghe was still in talks with the coalition on the allocation of the other portfolios.

Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera admitted the energy crisis was more serious than initially feared.

"

," Kanchana Wijesekera told parliament, calling on motorists not to go to the pumps.

Read alsoSri Lanka: exports of the famous Ceylon tea are collapsing

He added, however, that the government had managed to raise 53 million dollars to pay a tanker in the port of Colombo which is waiting for the actual collection of this sum to deliver its cargo.

"

," said Kanchana Wijesekera.