Protests have erupted outside a Sri Lankan navy base in Trincomalee this morning, after reports that Mahinda Rajapaksa was evacuated from his official residence in Colombo to the heavily occupied Tamil North-East by the military.

The besieged former Sri Lankan prime minister who handed in his resignation just yesterday, faced a night of angry protests outside his residence at Temple Trees in the Southern capital. Amidst repeated rounds of tear gas and warning shots being fired by the security forces, Rajapaksa was reportedly evacuated this morning.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M A Sumanthiran has called for the arrest of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who resigned from his post as Prime Minister earlier today following an outbreak of violence in Colombo. 

Mob attacks have broken out in Colombo today as anti-government protestors were attacked and security forces fired water cannons, with reports of further violence across the South of the island.

Armed troops have been deployed in Sri Lanka's capital with reports that pro-government supporters have also been attacked, as assaults were reported by both sides across the South

Watch | Vimukthi De Silva, an activist, recounts being attacked by the pro-Rajapaksa mob on Friday. “They asked me are you Tamil, and kicked me,” she says. - Reports @Meerasrini
Read the full story here: https://t.co/MttLvBVzfL pic.twitter.com/u6flZCnaRN

The war crimes-accused head of the Sri Lankan army called on the public to “think intelligently and act calmly” earlier today, after violence gripped the island with mob attacks across the South.

“The tri-forces are currently working to protect the people,” Shavendra Silva told reporters.

We are deeply concerned with the perpetration of violence in #SriLanka. Those responsible are only standing in the way of the country’s immediate economic recovery and making the task even more difficult for development partners.

Protestors still continue to clash outside the Prime Minster's residence as an island-wide curfew is declared across the island. 

Clashes between supporters of Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and anti-government demonstrators broke out in front of Temple Trees, the official residence of the Prime Minister, earlier this evening. 

The homes and vehicles of several prominent Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) politicians have been set alight as violence breaks out across Colombo.

Thus far, three people have died during the unrest and at least 100 injured. Sri Lanka’s military has been sent in to impose a state curfew.

The house of Government MP Sanath Nishantha who led a mob to attack Galle Face protesters completely destroyed pic.twitter.com/p1PpaGOgE2

A memorial constructed for D A Rajapaksa, the father of Mahinda and Gotabaya, has been destroyed.

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the incident in Hambantota. 

Amarakeerthi Athikorala, a member of the government-aligned Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), is reportedly dead amidst the carnage unfolding in Colombo as supporters of the Rajapaksa regime clash with anti-government demonstrators.

“The MP fled the scene and took refuge at a nearby building,” a police official told AFP by telephone. “Thousands surrounded the building and he then took his own life with his revolver.”

Responding to mob violence against peaceful demonstrators in Colombo, western diplomats have issued stern condemnations and stressed the need to “hold the perpetrators of violence to account”.

The statement comes as military troops have taken to the streets and have used tear gas and water cannons.

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung tweeted: