Unbelievable images are emerging from inside the Sri Lankan president’s home where thousands broke in only to swim, shower and sleep.
Wild videos have emerged of Sri Lankan protesters storming president Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s palace after weeks of civil unrest.
The president fled after the protesters, angered by an unprecedented economic crisis, overran his palace in the country’s capital, Colombo, and made their way into his nearby office.
Early on Sunday morning AEST, Mr Rajapaksa agreed to resign as president after being accused of ruining his nation’s economy from corruption and mismanagement.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also confirmed he would be stepping down.
The angry mob burned down the prime minister’s home, although he and his family were not inside.
But in more wholesome scenes, protesters made the most of President Rajapaksa’s sprawling palace after forcing their way inside.
Instead of setting it alight, Sri Lankans can be seen in viral clips lounging on sofas, taking showers, falling asleep in the president’s bed and even swimming in his pool.
The wild footage has been labelled as “incredible” and the foray into the presidential palace has provided a brief reprieve from reality for thousands of Sri Lankans who have been enduring food shortages for months.
Parliamentary speaker Mahinda Abeywardana said in a televised statement earlier on Sunday:
“To ensure a peaceful transition, the president said he will step down on July 13.
“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.”
Some suspect the president has fled the country, as his staff were seen wheeling suitcases reportedly belonging to the president towards a navy ship.
“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.”
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Police had withdrawn a curfew issued on Friday after opposition parties, rights activists and the bar association threatened to sue the police chief.
The wild scenes show Sri Lankans living it up in the presidential palace.
American political scientist Ian Bremmer called the scenes “incredible”.
Dozens of people packed into the president’s pool and one man was even photographed having a shower afterwards.
Some gleefully jumped in fully-clothed while others partially stripped down.
“The president‘s palace in Sri Lanka now belongs to the people,” one protester announced online.
— With AFP
Originally published as ‘Incredible’ images of Sri Lankan protesters living it up in president’s home
Credit: Source link
