Sat 09 July 2022:
In one of the largest anti-government marches in the crisis-ridden nation this year, thousands of protestors in Sri Lanka burst through police barricades and attacked the president’s mansion and office.
“The president was escorted to safety,” the source said, adding that troops fired in the air to prevent angry crowds from overrunning the President’s Palace.
Sirasa TV, a private broadcaster, showed crowds entering the once tightly-guarded residence.
Sri Lanka has suffered through months of food and fuel shortages, lengthy blackouts and galloping inflation after running out of foreign currency to import vital goods.
Huge crowds had poured into the capital for the demonstration, the latest expression of unrest sparked by the island nation’s unprecedented economic crisis.
Thousands of protesters in Sri Lanka have broken through police barricades and stormed the president’s official residence, news reports have said.#SriLankaProtests pic.twitter.com/KpgKPUKZul
— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) July 9, 2022
Police had withdrawn a curfew order issued on Friday after opposition parties, rights activists and the bar association threatened to sue the police chief.
Thousands of anti-government protesters ignored the stay-home order and even forced railway authorities to operate trains to take them to Colombo for Saturday’s rally, officials said.
Despite a severe shortage of fuel that has stalled transportation services, demonstrators packed into buses, trains and trucks from several parts of the country to reach Colombo to protest against the government’s failure to protect them from economic ruin.
Troops fired in the air to prevent angry crowds from overrunning the President’s House, reports said, adding that the beleaguered 73-year-old leader has been moved to a secure but undisclosed location.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has called an emergency meeting of political party leaders amid growing anger over the government’s handling of an economic crisis.
Protesters in Sri Lanka have stormed Presidential Palace.
President fled the Palace before. pic.twitter.com/oQkBCi3W0X
— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) July 9, 2022
Wickremesinghe also requested the speaker to summon parliament, a statement from the prime minister’s office said.
Many in the 22 million-person island nation blame Rajapaksa for the country’s collapse. Since March, largely peaceful rallies have called for his resignation.
One of Rajapaksa’s brothers resigned as prime minister last month, and two other brothers and a nephew had already resigned from cabinet positions.
Wickremesinghe took office as Prime Minister in May, and protests momentarily calmed in the belief that he would be able to find funds for the country’s pressing needs. People now want him to resign as well, claiming that he has failed to keep his commitments.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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