Protesters react as a tear gas shell fired by police lands next to them in Colombo on Saturday. (Photo: AP)Sri Lanka Protests Live News: Thousands of protesters in Sri Lanka’s commercial capital Colombo broke through police barricades and stormed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s official residence on Saturday in one of the largest anti-government marches in the crisis-hit country this year, according to news agency Reuters.
This came after reports of the President fleeing his home surfaced, according to news agency AFP. Some protesters, holding Sri Lankan flags and helmets, broke into the president’s residence, video footage from local TV news NewsFirst channel showed.
The island of 22 million people is struggling under a severe foreign exchange shortage that has limited essential imports of fuel, food and medicine, plunging it into the worst financial turmoil in seven decades. Thousands of people swarmed into Colombo’s government district, shouting slogans against the president and dismantling several police barricades to reach Rajapaksa’s house, a witness was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters. Police fired shots in the air but were unable to stop the angry crowd from surrounding the presidential residence, the witness added.
Students shout anti-government slogans during a protest march in Colombo on Friday. (AP)
Sri Lanka-based media organisation Daily Mirror shares footage circulating on social media claiming that luggage belonging to the President was hurriedly packed into a Navy ship (SLNS Gajabahu) at the Colombo Port.
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister on Saturday summoned an emergency meeting of political party leaders after protesters stormed the president's house in the commercial capital Colombo amid growing anger over the government's handling of an economic crisis. Ranil Wickremesinghe also requested the speaker to summon parliament, a statement from the prime minister's office said. (Reuters)
Former Minister Rajitha Senerath was beaten up by protestors as he tried to join the protest march at Galle Face, reports Sri Lanka-based media outlet Daily Mirror.
At least seven persons, including two policemen, were injured in clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters who had gathered in large numbers in the central Colombo's Fort area demanding the resignation of President Gotabya Rajapaksa.
Tens of thousands of protesters broke police barriers blocking the President's House where Rajapaksa has been housed since late March when the island-wide protests raged calling for his resignation. At least seven persons, including 2 policemen, were injured and admitted to the Colombo national hospital on Saturday, officials said. The police fired tear gas at two access roads to the President's House — Chatham Street and Lotus Road, but the defiant protesters continued unabated. (Reuters)
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has summoned an emergency Party Leaders meeting to discuss the situation and come to a swift resolution, according to local media reports. He is also requesting the Speaker to summon the Parliament.
As protesters broke into the official residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, they could be seen taking over the property, including many of them taking a dip in the pool.
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled his home as protesters surrounded and stormed his residence on Saturday, reported news agency AFP, citing a defence source and local media. Sri Lanka-based Daily Mirror reported that protestors have entered the residence of the President. Video footage from local TV news NewsFirst channel showed some protesters, holding Sri Lankan flags and helmets, broke into the president’s residence, said a Reuters report.
Thousands of protesters in Sri Lanka's commercial capital Colombo broke through police barricades and stormed the president's official residence on Saturday in one of the largest anti-government marches in the crisis-hit country this year. Some protesters, holding Sri Lankan flags and helmets, broke into the president's residence, video footage from local TV news NewsFirst channel showed. The island of 22 million people is struggling under a severe foreign exchange shortage that has limited essential imports of fuel, food and medicine, plunging it into the worst financial turmoil in seven decades. Many blame the country's decline on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Largely peaceful protests since March have demanded his resignation.