Thousands of protestors descended on the capital Colombo and stormed the presidential house, demanding the resignation of the country’s leaders amid the worst economic crisis.
Police used teargas and water cannon against the crowds but the crowds broke barricades as they moved toward the presidential palace and entered the property.
People carrying Sri Lankan flags and shouting slogans flooded the grand staircase of the colonial-era building chanting calls for the president to step down. The protestors lay down on the beds and dozens took a dip in the outdoor swimming pool at the presidential residence.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had already fled the residence over concerns that the planned protest would escalate. His location remained unknown and there were rumours that he was fleeing the country.
At least 20 people, including police officers, were injured and hospitalized during the protests.
Prime Minister’s home set on fire
After storming the presidential residence, the protesters broke into the Sri Lankan prime minister’s private residence and set it on fire in the biggest protests the country has seen during months of crisis.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he will resign only when all parties have agreed on a new government. “Today in this country we have a fuel crisis, a food shortage, we have the head of the World Food Program coming here and we have several matters to discuss with the IMF. Therefore, if this government leaves there should be another government,” Sri Lankan prime minister said in a statement.
Sri Lanka’s president announces resignation after mass protests
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has agreed to step down next week, the country’s parliamentary speaker said. “To ensure a peaceful transition, the president said he will step down on July 13,” speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana said. “The decision to step down on 13 July was taken to ensure a peaceful handover of power,” he said, requesting the people “to respect the law and maintain peace.”
Sri Lanka facing worst economic crisis
Sri Lanka has been in the grip of a devastating economic crisis as the country has nearly run out of fuel and facing the worst food and power crisis. The country’s prime minister recently said that Sri Lanka is bankrupt and the government ordered employees to work from home for two weeks amid shortage of fuel.
All sales of petrol have been suspended, schools have shut and medical surgeries are being delayed or cancelled over a shortage of medicines and equipment. Many families have had to cut back on meals, and nearly five million people, or 22% of the Sri Lankan population, urgently require food, according to the United Nations.
The angry citizens blamed the ruling Rajapaksa family for mismanaging the country. The family has dominated Sri Lanka’s politics for more than two decades.
