Minutes before an angry mob stormed his Colombo residence during protests denouncing Sri Lanka’s severe economic crisis, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled his official residence in Colombo. He was taken to a “safe spot” where he remains secret even from his closest collaborators. Ranil Wickremesinghe the Prime Minister has assembled a crisis cabinet. He has invited all political parties to participate in this meeting, which is awaiting “instructions” to find a quick solution. The top leader of the opposition has been summoned to Parliament. It is possible that he will resign, but it is not impossible.
According to the Ministry of Defense, Rajapasksa is still the president of the country and is being “protected by a unit of naval forces.” First information suggests that soldiers who were assigned to guard the official residence fired into the air in an attempt to stop protestors and allow the president to flee in a safe manner. Television shows thousands of people surrounded the palace and passing through its doors and walls. Videos are also being circulated on social media by hundreds of protesters who have walked through the halls and corridors of the colonial building. Although it is not known if there were any victims, it has been confirmed that nearly twenty people have been treated in hospitals due to the effects of tear gas.
A group of people break into the residence’s offices and halls / Reuters
Protests against the economic crisis and inflation that has left thousands vulnerable to hunger and power cuts, was the purpose of the demonstration. Tens of thousands of people marched in Colombo demanding the resignation of President, believing that his poor management has not only caused but also exacerbated the devastating effects of the pandemic. Two years of coronavirus have left a country that relies on this sector for its livelihood and has been exporting products like coffee, tea, and clothing. This has thrown him into the most severe crisis of recent decades.
The protestors were not stopped by the 20,000 military and police personnel stationed in the capital. The authorities’ attempt to impose a curfew on Friday was unsuccessful. This decision was later canceled by civil rights groups and opposition parties. . Many of them moved protesters who had formed groups in villages to the city.
The Army and Police have used tear gas against protestors / Reuters
The UN and other international organizations closely monitor the events in this country, an independent one in 1984. It was forced to suspend its foreign debt payments last April and has already experienced a wave protests in which nine people were killed and many more injured. wounds. The first student protest took place Friday. A brief curfew was then imposed. However, the main point of mobilization is Saturday. This Saturday’s demonstration keeps the Human Rights Commission alert due to the large presence of military units on the streets of Colombo.
