Uditha Jayasinghe & Alasdair Pa

COLOMBO, (Reuters) – Sri Lanka has lifted a 12-hour nationwide curfew on Saturday. This was in response to Ranil Wickremesinghe’s attempt to create a government following nine deaths from anti-government protestors.

A month of peaceful protests turned violent after Mahinda Rajapaksa’s supporters attacked an anti-government camp in Colombo. The protestors set on burning tents and clashing against each other.

Over 300 were also hurt in initial clashes with government officials and reprisals.

The curfew was lifted from 6 am (0030 GMT) Saturday to 6 pm on Friday. It had been imposed for 24 hours Monday. Thursday and Friday were lifted temporarily in order to permit the purchase of basic supplies.

After violence broke out on Monday night, Rajapaksa decided to step down. His younger brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa will continue as president.

Sri Lanka has been hit by rising oil prices, the pandemic, and the tax cuts of the populist Government. It is currently facing its most severe economic crisis since 1948, when it gained independence from Great Britain.

There are now fewer foreign reserves available, which has led to rampant inflation as well as fuel shortages that have forced thousands of people onto the streets.

Wickremesinghe was a five-time Prime Minister and was reappointed to a second term on Thursday. It was anticipated that Wickremesinghe would begin to appoint ministers prior to the reconvocation of parliament on Tuesday.

Wickremesinghe, the only lawmaker representing his United National Party in Parliament, will have to rely on other parties for a coalition government. Wickremesinghe has been supported by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Rajapaksas.

While the opposition to him has said no, smaller parties indicated their support for his policies in stabilizing the economy.