New Delhi: The demonstrations and stir in Sri Lanka took an ugly turn on Saturday as thousands of protesters stormed into the Presidential Palace and thronged the compound while many were seen taking dip in the palace’s swimming pool.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled his official residence in Colombo, moments after protestors entered the President’s premises in hordes and went on a rampage.
Sri Lanka crisis: कोलंबो में राष्ट्रपति भवन में घुसे प्रदर्शनकारी, राष्ट्रपति गोटाबाया आवास छोड़कर भागे pic.twitter.com/z5ssVOP0KH
— Newsroom Post (@NewsroomPostCom) July 9, 2022
The scale of protests over economic meltdown in Sri Lanka today reached an unprecedented level as protestors captured the Presidential palace. In pictures viral on social media, the protestors can be seen using President’s swimming pool, squatting in sofas and trespassing into kitchen & other areas.
Protestors could be seen holding Sri Lankan flags & helmets while entering the premises. The security deployment proved ineffectual as people could be seen all around and inside the President residence.
Video – Protesters inside President's House in Colombo.pic.twitter.com/hadRlAa1Qk #LKA #SriLanka #SriLankaCrisis
— Sri Lanka Tweet ?? ? (@SriLankaTweet) July 9, 2022
A Facebook livestream from the President’s House also showed hundreds of people, packing themselves into rooms & corridors and shouting slogans against Rajapaksa. Hundreds could also be seen milled on the grounds outside the palatial building.
Military personnel & police personnel who secure the premises were unable to hold back the crowd as they chanted slogans demanding exit of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Happening now #July9th massive protest in Colombo Sri Lanka, demanding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down.#LKA #SriLanka #EconomicCrisisLK #SriLankaCrisis pic.twitter.com/RQpn7KPke6
— Sri Lanka Tweet ?? ? (@SriLankaTweet) July 9, 2022
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has called an emergency meet of parties to discuss the situation and come with a swift resolution.
Protestors inside the President’s House #EconomicCrisisLK #SriLankaProtests #SriLankaProtests pic.twitter.com/OpPcs5jhlc
— Priyatharshan ? (@priyatharshan1) July 9, 2022
Experts say that this is the manifestation of months of mounting public anger over country’s worst economic crisis in decades.
Colombo | In a viral video, SJB MP Rajitha Senaratne attacked by protesters as agitation erupts on the streets amid the ongoing economic crisis.
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has reportedly fled the country pic.twitter.com/A09tBsPmi7
— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2022