In an effort to stop anti-government protests on the island, Sri Lankan security officers have been authorized to shoot lawbreakers on sight.

Demonstrators are calling for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign in the wake of the island’s greatest economic crisis in history.

His brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, resigned as prime minister on Monday amid violent street protests.

The resignation, however, did not bring peace, and the fighting continued overnight.

The government instructed troops to open fire on anyone plundering public property or creating “life-threatening injury” on Tuesday.

It also stationed tens of thousands of army, naval, and air force soldiers on patrol in Colombo’s streets.

Despite their presence, a mob assaulted the city’s top police officer on Tuesday afternoon, accusing him of failing to protect peaceful protesters.

Crowds continued to congregate on the seafront in Colombo’s Galle Face Green.

Since Monday, police say eight people have died and more than 200 people have been injured, according to the capital’s major hospital.

Pro-government mobs injured others, while police sprayed tear gas into crowds harmed others. Protesters’ lawyers told the BBC that they were bringing lawsuits against supporters of the prime minister.

Authorities have extended an island-wide curfew until Thursday am in an attempt to stop the bloodshed.

The aftermath of last night’s rioting is everywhere across Colombo: buses thrown into the lake, others with smashed windows and burning tyres.