Sri Lanka’s president flees as protesters storm official residence

“Incredible” video footage of the moment hundreds of thousands of protesters storm Sri Lanka’s presidential palace has gone viral the world over.

Protesters demanding the resignation of Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa gather inside the compound of Sri Lanka's Presidential Palace in Colombo on July 9, 2022. Picture: AFP

There have been extraordinary scenes in Sri Lanka overnight as angry protesters stormed president Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s palace and later set fire to the home of the country’s prime minister.

The president was forced to flee after the protesters, angered by an unprecedented economic crisis, overran the compound in Colombo and made their way into his nearby office.

They then turned their attention to the home of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and set it alight. The Prime Minister and his family were not at home at the time.

As the chaos unfolded, the president confirmed he would resign, planning to stay in office until Wednesday before officially stepping down.

“To ensure a peaceful transition, the president said he will step down on July 13,” parliamentary speaker Mahinda Abeywardana says in a televised statement.

“The decision to step down on 13 July was taken to ensure a peaceful handover of power. I therefore request the public to respect the law and maintain peace,” he added.

Wild scenes as mob targets president’s palace

Wild footage has emerged showing protesters exploring Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s palace — swimming in his pool and looking around his kitchen — after thousands stormed his official residence on Saturday.

Hundreds of thousands of people massed on the streets around the leader’s home, according to police estimates, to demand he step down over the government’s mismanagement of the unprecedented downturn.

presidential palace in sri lanka stormed, ransacked. just incredible footage pic.twitter.com/kfS9OPl32C

— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) July 9, 2022

Protestors taking a dip in the pool at President’s House. pic.twitter.com/7iUUlOcP6Z

— DailyMirror (@Dailymirror_SL) July 9, 2022

People storm Presidential Secretariat and Old Parliament. pic.twitter.com/CbTg4LPg0b

— DailyMirror (@Dailymirror_SL) July 9, 2022

After storming the gates of the presidential palace, hundreds of people 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.

Protesters had surrounded the leader’s home to demand his resignation, blaming government mismanagement for a downturn that has subjected the island nation’s 22 million people to months of bitter hardship.

As the crowd surged at the gates of the presidential palace, troops guarding the compound fired in the air to hold them back until Mr Rajapaksa was safely removed.

“The president was escorted to safety,” a top defence source told AFP on condition of anonymity. “He is still the president, he is being protected by a military unit.”

Protesters demanding the resignation of Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa gather inside the compound of Sri Lanka's Presidential Palace in Colombo on July 9, 2022. Picture: AFP

Protestors swim in a pool inside the president’s palace. Picture: AFP

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the first person in line to succeed Mr Rajapaksa, called a meeting with political leaders and said he was willing to step down to pave the way for a unity government.

Other footage apparently showed staff running towards a Navy ship wheeling suitcases reportedly belonging to the president.

Meanwhile protesters were seen laughing and lounging in the stately bedrooms of the residence. The colonial-era state mansion is one of Sri Lanka’s key symbols of state power and officials said Rajapaksa’s departure raised questions as to whether he intended to remain in office.

“We are awaiting instructions,” a top civil servant told AFP. “We still don’t know where he is, but we know he is with the Sri Lanka navy and is safe.”

Police use tear gas to disperse protesters. Picture: AFP

Footage circulated on Social Media claim that luggage belonging to the President was hurriedly packed into a Navy Ship (SLNS Gajabahu) at the Colombo Port. #DailyMirror#SriLanka#SLnewspic.twitter.com/S07NRvZDZx

— DailyMirror (@Dailymirror_SL) July 9, 2022

Protestors explore the kitchen at President’s House. pic.twitter.com/6nI90PdWvo

— DailyMirror (@Dailymirror_SL) July 9, 2022

Private broadcasters showed what appeared to be a vehicle convoy belonging to the president at Sri Lanka’s main international airport, but there was no confirmation on whether he had left the island.

Soon after the crowd stormed the presidential palace, Mr Rajapaksa’s nearby office also fell into the hands of protesters.

Security forces attempted to disperse the huge crowds that had mobbed Colombo’s administrative district.

Thousands of protesters. Picture: AFP

A protester prepares to throw back a tear gas canister fired by the police to disperse protesters. Picture: AFP

Massive number of protestors seen at GotaGoGama. #DailyMirror#SriLanka#SLnewspic.twitter.com/H6J906Y2gP

— DailyMirror (@Dailymirror_SL) July 9, 2022

Three people were hospitalised after being shot along with 36 others who suffered breathing difficulties following intense tear gas barrages, a spokeswoman for the main hospital in Colombo said.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who would assume the presidency in the event of Rajapaksa’s resignation, has called an urgent cabinet meeting to discuss a “swift resolution” to the political crisis.

‘Not a deterrent’

Sri Lanka has suffered through months of food and fuel shortages, lengthy blackouts and galloping inflation after running out of foreign currency to import vital goods.

Thousands of people had poured into the capital for Saturday’s demonstration, the latest outbreak of unrest sparked by the crisis.

Police had withdrawn a curfew issued on Friday after opposition parties, rights activists and the bar association threatened to sue the police chief.

Thousands of anti-government protesters ignored the stay-home order and even forced railway authorities to operate trains to take them to Colombo for Saturday’s rally, officials said.

Protesters inside the compound of Sri Lanka's Presidential Palace. Picture: AFP

More video footage from inside President’s House. pic.twitter.com/76RtX64VdS

— DailyMirror (@Dailymirror_SL) July 9, 2022

“The curfew was not a deterrent, in fact it encouraged more people to get on the streets in defiance,” the defence official said.

“Passengers had commandeered trains to reach Colombo.”

The country has nearly exhausted already scarce supplies of petrol, but protesters backed by the main opposition parties hired private buses to travel to the capital.

Demonstrators had for months been camped outside Rajapaksa’s seafront office to demand his resignation over the government’s mismanagement of the crisis.

Soldiers armed with assault rifles were bussed into Colombo on Friday to reinforce police guarding Rajapaksa’s official residence.

Authorities said they had deployed nearly 20,000 troops and police officers for a security operation to protect the president.

Sri Lanka has defaulted on its $51 billion external debt and has been in bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund.

Nine people were killed and hundreds wounded when clashes erupted across the country after Rajapaksa loyalists attacked peaceful protesters outside the president’s office in May.

Cricket goes on

The unrest comes at the tail end of Australia’s ongoing cricket tour of Sri Lanka, with Pakistan’s squad also on the island for their upcoming series.

Cricket officials said there were no plans to change their schedules, adding that the sport was unaffected by the political turmoil.

“The Australian Test is coming to an end and we are due to start the Pakistan series,” a cricket board official told AFP.

“There is no opposition to having the games. In fact, fans are supportive and we have no reason to reschedule.”