Months into the country's worst-ever economic crisis, thousands of protesters in Sri Lanka stormed the president's official residence and demanded his immediate resignation.
Security forces fire tear gas to disperse an anti government protest rally outside the presidents official residence, on July 09, 2022, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Protesters on Saturday broke into the Sri Lankan prime minister's private residence and set it on fire hours after he said he would resign when a new government is formed, in the biggest day of angry demonstrations that also saw crowds storming the president's home and office.
But he made it clear he will not step down before a new government is formed, angering crowds that moved near his home to demand his immediate departure. Privately-owned Sirasa Television reported that at least six of their staff members including four reporters were hospitalized after they were beaten by police while covering the protest near Wickremesinghe’s home.
It was not clear if Rajapaksa was inside his residence when it was stormed. A government spokesman, Mohan Samaranayake, said he had no information about his movements. The turmoil has led to months of protests, which have nearly dismantled the Rajapaksa political dynasty that has ruled Sri Lanka for most of the past two decades.
Thousands of protesters entered the capital from the suburbs after police lifted an overnight curfew. With fuel supplies scarce, many crowded onto buses and trains to come to the city to protest, while others made their way on bicycles and on foot.
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