Sri Lankan President Flees As Thousands Of Protesters Storm Official Residence Global News

In one of the biggest anti-government marches to hit the country this year as the economy collapses, protesters have called for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, announced that he would step down on Saturday afternoon. “To ensure the continuation of 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. He resigned after thousands of people descended on the government quarter in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, chanting slogans against the president and breaking down several police barricades to get to his home. The police fired into the air but failed to stop the enraged crowd from surrounding the residence. At least 39 people, including two policemen, have been injured in the riots, hospital sources said. Protesters also gathered outside the Presidential Secretariat – the office of the president – and the prime minister’s home. Both Mr. Rajapaksa and Mr. Wickremesinghe have been moved to a safe location as a security precaution, Defense Ministry sources said. Hundreds of flag-waving protesters gathered inside the president’s beachfront property and used the pool in a live stream on Facebook. Image: Protesters inside the president’s house in Colombo. Photo: AP Mr Wickremesinghe, who was appointed in May, resigned after calling political party leaders to an emergency meeting following the violence. He also called for the president to dissolve parliament, a statement from his office said. US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung called on people to demonstrate peacefully and for police to give protesters space – as she warned that “chaos and violence will not fix the economy”. Sri Lanka, home to 22 million people, is facing its worst economic crisis in seven decades since it gained independence in 1948. Inflation hit a record 54.6% in June and is expected to soar to 70%, piling pressure on the cash-strapped population. Image: Protesters at the presidential palace. Pic: News Cutter Image: The garden at the president’s residence was flooded. Photo: Reuters Image: The president’s residence. Photo: Reuters The country is struggling under a severe foreign exchange shortage that has limited essential imports of fuel, food and medicine. Many blame the fall on Mr. Rajapaksa, who faces constant calls for his resignation. Demonstrator Sabath Perera, 37, criticized the president for “clinging to power” and warned: “We will not stop until he listens to us.” Image: Crowds gathered outside the president’s office in Colombo. Photo: AP Image: Tear gas fired by police lands in the crowd. Photo: AP Image: Authorities try to disperse protesters in Colombo. Photo: AP Anger has intensified in recent weeks as fuel shipments have been cut, with petrol and diesel being rationed for essential services. Britain’s Foreign Office has warned against all but essential travel to the country, which has been left in economic turmoil due to economic mismanagement and the impact of the pandemic. In April this year, Sri Lanka announced it was suspending repayment of foreign loans, blaming a shortage of foreign currency. Image: A man covers his face after being teargassed in Colombo. Photo: AP Image: Protesters came prepared with gas masks. Photo: AP It has amassed £42.4bn of debt – around half of which, £23.3bn, must be repaid by the end of 2027. The crisis has severely damaged the reputation of the Rajapaksa political dynasty, which has led the country for most of the past two decades. Mr Rajapaksa has so far held on to power after his brother resigned as prime minister in May and two other brothers and a nephew resigned from cabinet posts earlier this year.

title: “Sri Lankan President Flees As Thousands Of Protesters Storm Official Residence Global News " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-20” author: “Theresa Shafer”

In one of the biggest anti-government marches to hit the country this year as the economy collapses, protesters have called for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, announced that he would step down on Saturday afternoon. “To ensure the continuation of 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. He resigned after thousands of people descended on the government quarter in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, chanting slogans against the president and breaking down several police barricades to get to his home. The police fired into the air but failed to stop the enraged crowd from surrounding the residence. At least 39 people, including two policemen, have been injured in the riots, hospital sources said. Protesters also gathered outside the Presidential Secretariat – the office of the president – and the prime minister’s home. Both Mr. Rajapaksa and Mr. Wickremesinghe have been moved to a safe location as a security precaution, Defense Ministry sources said. Hundreds of flag-waving protesters gathered inside the president’s beachfront property and used the pool in a live stream on Facebook. Image: Protesters inside the president’s house in Colombo. Photo: AP Mr Wickremesinghe, who was appointed in May, resigned after calling political party leaders to an emergency meeting following the violence. He also called for the president to dissolve parliament, a statement from his office said. US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung called on people to demonstrate peacefully and for police to give protesters space – as she warned that “chaos and violence will not fix the economy”. Sri Lanka, home to 22 million people, is facing its worst economic crisis in seven decades since it gained independence in 1948. Inflation hit a record 54.6% in June and is expected to soar to 70%, piling pressure on the cash-strapped population. Image: Protesters at the presidential palace. Pic: News Cutter Image: The garden at the president’s residence was flooded. Photo: Reuters Image: The president’s residence. Photo: Reuters The country is struggling under a severe foreign exchange shortage that has limited essential imports of fuel, food and medicine. Many blame the fall on Mr. Rajapaksa, who faces constant calls for his resignation. Demonstrator Sabath Perera, 37, criticized the president for “clinging to power” and warned: “We will not stop until he listens to us.” Image: Crowds gathered outside the president’s office in Colombo. Photo: AP Image: Tear gas fired by police lands in the crowd. Photo: AP Image: Authorities try to disperse protesters in Colombo. Photo: AP Anger has intensified in recent weeks as fuel shipments have been cut, with petrol and diesel being rationed for essential services. Britain’s Foreign Office has warned against all but essential travel to the country, which has been left in economic turmoil due to economic mismanagement and the impact of the pandemic. In April this year, Sri Lanka announced it was suspending repayment of foreign loans, blaming a shortage of foreign currency. Image: A man covers his face after being teargassed in Colombo. Photo: AP Image: Protesters came prepared with gas masks. Photo: AP It has amassed £42.4bn of debt – around half of which, £23.3bn, must be repaid by the end of 2027. The crisis has severely damaged the reputation of the Rajapaksa political dynasty, which has led the country for most of the past two decades. Mr Rajapaksa has so far held on to power after his brother resigned as prime minister in May and two other brothers and a nephew resigned from cabinet posts earlier this year.