Demonstrators reportedly stormed Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister’s residence in Colombo during a protest over the country’s terrible economic crisis.
Shortly after the protest, Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe said he is willing to resign and allow for an-all party government to replace him.
“To ensure the continuation of the Government including the safety of all citizens I accept the best recommendation of the Party Leaders today, to make way for an All-Party Government,” Wickremesinghe wrote on Twitter.
“To facilitate this I will resign as Prime Minister.”
Sri Lankan lawmaker Rauff Hakeem tweeted on Saturday that, both the President and Prime Minister have been asked to resign per an “overwhelming request,” by the Speaker of Parliament to resign following a meeting with party leaders.
The Prime Minister is yet to officially submit his resignation letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Sri Lanka’s Speaker of Parliament, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has said he has directed the Prime Minister to resign latest by July 13.
The announcement comes after the Speaker asked President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down after a meeting of party leaders.
Anger reached unprecedented levels in the South Asian nation of 22 million on Saturday, as more than 100,000 people massed outside Rajapaksa’s residence, calling for his resignation.
Video broadcast on Sri Lankan television and on social media showed the protesters entering the President’s House — Rajapaksa’s office and residence in the commercial capital — after breaking through security cordons placed by police.
Images show demonstrators inside the building and hanging banners from the balcony, as well as swimming in the residence’s pool.
