AFP: Boos and heckles greeted Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday on his first public outing since nationwide protests erupted demanding his ruling family resign over the worsening economic crisis.

Months of blackouts and acute shortages of food, fuel and medicines have caused widespread suffering across the South Asian island in its worst economic downturn since independence in 1948.

Yesterday, the premier visited one of the holiest Buddhist temples – housing a reputedly 2,300-year-old tree – in Anuradhapura.

But dozens of people carried hand-written placards and chanted slogans demanding that “thieves” be banned from the sacred city, 200 km (125 miles) north of Colombo.

“We will worship you if you stand down (as Prime Minister) and leave,” one man shouted.

Heavily armed Special Task Force (STF) commandos were deployed while Police moved to clear the road for Rajapaksa’s convoy of six vehicles.

Officials said the premier returned to the capital by helicopter.

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