By Asiri Fernando Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and some of his family members are at the Navy Dockyard at Trincomalee Naval Base in the east coast of Sri Lanka, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunarathne told the press a short while ago. Responding to a question, Gunarathne said the former PM was evacuated by a military unit in the early hours of Tuesday (10) following the PM's office – Temple Trees being surrounded by ‘unruly protestors’ who had been making threats to the former PM. Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family members had then been flown to Trincomalee on Air Force helicopters, he confirmed. When asked why the military is protecting the former PM, Gunarathne said that Mahinda Rajapaksa was entitled to his security as a former president in accordance with the constitution of the country. Gunarathne commented that Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family members will be given safe passage to a location of their choice once the unrest in the country was brought under control. “Once the situation gets normal, which I think will happen in a few days, I think the former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa can return to a place of his choice, we are duty bound by the constitution to afford him protection befitting that of a former president,” he said. Gunarathne called on the citizens of Sri Lanka to remain calm, not to engage in violence, arson and looting. He also urged the public and come forward with information and evidence regarding the brutal mob attack on peaceful protestors at the make-shift ‘GotaGoGama’ encampment at the Galle Face green, and the subsequent violence which led to many homes, properties and vehicles to be torched and damaged in the following hours. According to the Ministry of Defence, 136 homes and properties have been damaged or completely burnt down during the violence, with 61 vehicles damaged and 40 burnt (including Police and state-owned vehicles) during the last 48 hours. The attacks on the peaceful protestors at ‘’MinaGoGama’ and ‘GotaGoGama’ protest sites, and the violence that followed has resulted in 219 persons being injured, Gunarathne said adding that 9 individuals, including two police officers had died due to the violence.