By Online Desk
Hundreds of angry protesters have entered Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s office in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo hours after news emerged that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled to the Maldives early today morning in the face of a public revolt against his government for mishandling the country’s economy. Visuals depicted the mob breaching the heavy security arrangements outside the office.
#WATCH | Sri Lanka: Hundreds of furious protestors enter the premises of the Sri Lankan PM’s residence in Colombo as they breach the security deployment amid tear-gas shelling pic.twitter.com/CjMnuHgUjc
— ANI (@ANI) July 13, 2022
Security forces are reportedly using tear gas shells to disperse the crowd outside the Prime Minister’s office.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took off from the country for the Maldives on an Antonov-32 military aircraft with his wife and a bodyguard who were among four passengers on board, media reports stated citing immigration sources.
#WATCH Protesters face to face with military personnel deployed outside Sri Lankan prime minister’s residence in ColomboRanil Wickremesinghe is a failed prime minister, says a protester. pic.twitter.com/6TtfT9wvky
— ANI (@ANI) July 13, 2022
Meanwhile, India today categorically denied “baseless and speculative” media reports that it facilitated the travel of Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
ALSO READ | India rejected Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s request for a safe getaway?
Rajapaksa on July 11 signed his resignation letter which will be handed over to the Speaker of Parliament to make a public announcement today.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday will be sworn in as the President for a temporary period till a new President is elected by Parliament on July 20 and nominations for the presidency will be called for on July 19.
This year, Sri Lanka has been suffering a severe economic crisis which has led to public protests.
