Some fear that the protests that led to the occupation of government buildings could intensify on Thursday due to the apparent silence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Troops move to secure Sri Lanka’s parliament building with armored personnel carriers. Authorities imposed another curfew from noon Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday in a bid to prevent further protests. A state of emergency had earlier been imposed and a nationwide curfew was in place until Thursday morning. Earlier, protesters left government buildings in Colombo, even though the president had not resigned after promising to do so. Thousands of people stormed Mr Rajapaksa’s palace on Saturday and occupied it in protest at the country’s economic chaos. Mr Rajapaksa and his wife fled to the Maldives on Wednesday in an air force jet and the prime minister acted as president in his absence. It was thought the president wanted to leave the country before resigning because Sri Lankan presidents are protected from arrest while in office, but not once they leave office. Maldivian officials said Mr. Rajapaksa was taking a Saudi Airlines plane to Singapore, but his final destination was not clear. The AP previously reported it was headed to Saudi Arabia, but later said that could not be confirmed. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 0:50 Protesters storm the Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s office The prime minister’s appointment as deputy president further angered protesters who accused him of protecting Mr Rajapaksa. Protesters blame Mr. Rajapaksa and his powerful, dynastic family for plunging the country into an economic crisis that has caused severe food and fuel shortages. Sky News watched as protesters at the presidential palace agreed to leave the premises on Thursday. From the presidential palace at about 2pm local time, Sky’s Nicole Johnston said: “Unbelievable scenes just in the last few minutes, we saw the protest leaders start to leave the presidential palace, it’s happening right behind us. cheering and shouting that the match was won. “The protest leaders have decided enough is enough and it’s time to hand over these government buildings. So far, three out of four have been handed back. One more is under negotiation. “They’ve gone upstairs and are cleaning it up. They say they want to get it back in good condition. One of the reasons they sent it back is they were concerned about protecting it.” Mr. Rajapaksa had repeatedly assured the parliament speaker that he would resign by Wednesday night, but his resignation letter had not arrived by Thursday, an aide to the president, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, told Reuters. Read more: What is happening in Sri Lanka? One person was killed and 84 injured in clashes between riot police and protesters on Wednesday near the parliament building and the prime minister’s office. Crowds of people, undeterred by multiple rounds of tear gas, scaled the walls to enter Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s office, while those outside cheered in support and threw bottles of water at them. Protesters took turns posing in the prime minister’s office, taking photos similar to those taken when protesters stormed the presidential palace on Saturday, or standing on a rooftop waving the Sri Lankan flag. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 0:32 Helicopter flies near protesters in Sri Lanka Earlier this week, the opposition said it was trying to form a unity government to take over, but Mr Wickremesinghe said he would not leave until a new government was formed and the opposition is deeply divided. If Mr. Rajapaksa steps down as planned, Sri Lankan lawmakers agreed to elect a new president on July 20 to serve out the remainder of Mr. Rajapaksa’s term, which ends in 2024. Whichever MP elects president could potentially appoint a new prime minister, who would then have to be approved by parliament. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 1:30 Moment of tear gas during protests in Sri Lanka There have been expressions of concern that the military – which has warned people to remain calm – could become more involved if protesters refuse to leave all the buildings they have stormed or continue to demonstrate, which some have vowed to do. if the president does not publicly resign.
