Sri Lankan police came under pressure on Monday to arrest Rajapaksa family loyalists involved in last week’s attacks on peaceful protesters, while more than 200 people were arrested on various charges after nine people were killed in violence.
Curfew was imposed last Monday due to clashes.
Police have arrested around 230 people since May 9 for violating curfew, attacking public and causing damage to public and private properties.
“Police said they have already arrested more than 200 people for attacking government politicians. We condemn such violence. But they are in no hurry to arrest the government-backed attackers of the protesters.”
The Attorney General also asked the police to expedite the investigation.
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A government-backed mob attacked protesters demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother and former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on May 9, when the then prime minister, refusing to step down, addressed thousands at his official residence.
The attack triggered widespread violence against Rajapaksa loyalists, killing nine people and injuring more than 200.
At least 78 lawmakers, including former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, had faced arson attacks on their properties, police said.
The former prime minister was cornered at his official residence before being rescued to security in a highly secure naval base in Trincomalee.
Police have urged the public to provide information about the government-backed attackers. They have arrested a worker of the city council controlled by the ruling party of Colombo, a suburb of Moratuwa.
Police set up dedicated phone lines for the public to provide information about the attackers, handing over the investigation to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
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Politicians in the ruling party have demanded additional security for him as he is due to appear in parliament on Tuesday, the first time since violence left nine people dead and over 200 injured.
Sri Lanka is going through the worst economic crisis since independence in 1948.
Severe shortage of foreign reserves has led to long queues for fuel, cooking gas and other essential items, while power cuts and rising food prices have irked people.
The economic crisis also led to a political crisis in Sri Lanka and calls for the resignation of the powerful Rajapaksa.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa dismissed his cabinet and appointed a youth cabinet in response to demands for his resignation. There has been a continuous sit-in in front of his secretariat for more than a month.
Last Monday, Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s older brother Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as prime minister to find a way for the president to appoint an interim all-political party government. Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed as the new Prime Minister of the country on Thursday.