Sri Lanka's beleaguered President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled his official residence in the capital on Saturday after protesters demanding the leader's resignation stormed the president's official residence.
The island of 22 million people is struggling under a severe foreign exchange shortage that has limited essential imports of fuel, food and medicine, plunging it into the worst financial turmoil in seven decades.
Stay here for all updates on this developing news story: Read Less The PM's decision to resign came after urgent party leaders meeting today Decision pursuant to the Party Leaders meeting. https://t.co/SITH82ot5U Ranil Wickremesinghe resigns as PM To ensure the continuation of the Government including the safety of all citizens I accept the best recommendation… https://t.co/uA8P5Gaa1A Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has told the party leaders that he is willing to resign as Prime Minister of the nation and make way for an all-party government to take over: PMO SJB MP Rajitha Senaratne attacked by protesters as agitation erupts on the streets amid the ongoing economic crisis.
Colombo | In a viral video, SJB MP Rajitha Senaratne attacked by protesters as agitation erupts on the streets amid… https://t.co/JkgAZl6ic2 Sri Lankan schools shut till July 15 as crisis deepens Consensus is largely for all to demand immediate resignation of president and PM.
Speaker to take over per constitution.
Urgent party leaders meeting on now at Speaker’s official residence.
PM, AKD and Sumanthiran et el participated via Zoom.
Protesters enter swimming pool inside the president's residence 16 MPs From President Rajapaksa's party request his immediate resignation Several Sri Lankan military personnel join protesters against President: Reports Former Sri Lankan cricketer and captain Sanath Jayasuriya joins protest against Sri Lankan government Visuals from the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo #WATCH | Sri Lanka: People gather in large numbers outside the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo as the beleaguer… https://t.co/LafDxq7xvV Prime Minister Wickremesinghe holds initial talks with party leaders As protesters surged at the gates of the Sri Lankan president's palace, troops guarding the compound fired in the air to hold back the crowds until Gotabaya Rajapaksa was safely removed (AFP) Reports say unknown people on board two Navy ships that left Colombo port Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa's whereabouts not known SJB MP Rajitha Senaratne attacked by protesters: Reports Saturday sees massive protests in Sri Lanka over economic prices #WATCH | Massive #protests erupt in economic crisis-laden Sri Lanka as protesters amass at the President's Secretar… https://t.co/Z6SlK3KuTj Protestors confront security personnel while protesting against the exacerbating economic situation amid prevailing unrest in the island-nation.
According to a viral video on social media, a VIP motorcade has reached the Colombo international airport where a Sri Lanka Airlines aircraft was parked source