Protesters have broken into the Sri Lankan prime minister’s private residence and set it on fire, hours after he said he would resign when a new government is formed, in the biggest day of demonstrations that also saw crowds storming the president’s home and office.
The office of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the protesters forced their way into his Colombo home on Saturday evening. It’s not immediately clear if he was inside at the time of the attack.
Earlier, Wickremesinghe, who is also the country’s finance minister, took to Twitter to say that he was stepping aside to make way for an all-party government to take over the country in the wake of the protests over rampant inflation and fuel and food shortages.
Sri Lanka’s prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe announced he will step down amid civil unrest. AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena“To ensure the continuation of the Government including the safety of all citizens I accept the best recommendation of the Party Leaders today, to make way for an All-Party Government,” he tweeted. “To facilitate this I will resign as Prime Minister.”
Earlier in the day, thousands of protestors broke through police barriers and stormed the official residence of president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the commercial capital of Colombo. Viral video footage showed protestors wandering through the residence and swimming in the pool.
Rajapaksa, who has not resigned, was removed by security forces and is in a safe location, according to reports.
Protesters in Sri Lanka have grown outraged over the country’s lingering food and fuel shortages. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte
Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled from his residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka after protesters invaded the building. AP Photo/Amitha Thennakoon
Demonstrators celebrate after storming through the presidential palace of Sri Lanka president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Colombo, Sri Lanka on July 9, 2022. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte
A man throws a tear gas canister at police during a riot in Colombo, Sri Lanka. AP Photo/Amitha ThennakoonThe island of 22 million is suffering through its worst economic crisis in decades, with shortages of fuel, food and medicine. Protests have been building since March throughout the country.
With Post wires



