Jakarta –
Protesters storm the President’s official residence Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Colombo on Saturday (9/7).
Reported from the news agency AFPSaturday (9/7/2022), the president was escorted out of his residence before the crowd demanding his resignation stormed.
“The president is being held in a safe place,” a defense source told AFP. He added that police fired shots in the air to prevent angry mobs from storming the presidential palace. However, a number of demonstrators managed to break into the courtyard of Rajapaksa’s residence.
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Sirasa TV, a private broadcaster, showed a crowd of people entering the presidential residence.
For months, Sri Lanka has suffered from food and fuel shortages, long power outages and high inflation after running out of foreign currency to import essential goods.
On Saturday (9/7), thousands of protesters from across the country stormed Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital to demand Rajapaksa’s resignation. They traveled by car, van and bus to the capital. They swarmed the government district in Colombo, chanting slogans against the president and breaking through several police barricades to reach President Rajapaksa’s house.
The country is suffering from rampant inflation and is struggling to import food, fuel and medicine. Many have blamed the country’s dire economic situation on President Rajapaksa. Demonstrations have been taking place since March to demand his resignation.
Also check out ‘Democracy Demands Sri Lankan President Resign, Tear Gas Throws Crowds’:
(it/it)
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