Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa agrees to step down, a decision that comes after protesters stormed his residence and set fire to the prime minister’s Colombo home in angry demonstrations over an economic crisis
Months of protests led to the climactic developments — and dramatic scenes — on Saturday, when Rajapaksa fled his official residence shortly before protesters overran the compound and stormed his nearby office.
After storming the gates of the presidential palace, hundreds could be seen in live broadcasts on social media walking through its rooms, with some among the boisterous crowd jumping into the compound's pool. Not long earlier, troops guarding the residence fired in the air to hold the crowd back until Rajapaksa was safely removed. Soon after, Rajapaksa's nearby seafront office also fell into the hands of protesters.
Sri Lanka has been reeling from a massive economic crisis that has triggered shortages of essentials and rolling blackouts, and led to skyrocketing prices.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sri Lanka Parliament speaker: President to resign WednesdayCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The speaker of Sri Lanka’s Parliament says President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has agreed to resign as of Wednesday. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said in a televised statement Saturday that he informed Rajapaksa of a decision taken at a meeting of Parliamentary party leaders requesting he leave office, and he agreed.
Read more »
Sri Lankan PM agrees to quit in biggest political turmoilSri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has agreed to resign after party leaders in Parliament demanded both he and the embattled president step down on the day protesters stormed the president’s residence and office
Read more »
Sri Lankan prime minister agrees to resign amid political turmoilSri Lanka’s prime minister agreed to resign on Saturday after party leaders in Parliament demanded both he and the embattled president step down on the day protesters stormed the president’s residence and office in a fury over a worsening economic crisis.
Read more »
Sri Lankan PM agrees to quit amid political turmoil as crowds set fire to private residenceSri Lanka’s prime minister agrees to resign after party leaders in Parliament demanded both he and the embattled president step down.
Read more »
Protesters have broken into Sri Lankan prime minister's private residence, set it on fire: SpokesmanSpokesman says protesters have broken into Sri Lankan prime minister's private residence and set it on fire.
Read more »