Protestors Storm Sri Lankan Presidential Palace, Prime Minister Resigns (WATCH)

It appears the Sri Lankan government has fallen!

In the biggest day of angry demonstrations, protestors stormed the Sri Lankan prime minister’s private residence and set it on fire.

Crowds also swarmed the the president’s home and office.

WATCH:

NOW – Protesters storm the presidential palace in Sri Lanka's capital.pic.twitter.com/Wv6oQ10kBQ

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) July 9, 2022

https://twitter.com/RadioGenova/status/1545806366232690691

https://twitter.com/WallStreetSilv/status/1545709346453069825

Sri Lanka protesters are seen swimming in the president’s pool after thousands stormed the presidential palace Saturday demanding his resignation as the country faces a severe economic crisis. pic.twitter.com/NsTnATol4x

— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 9, 2022

Protests continue in Colombo Sri Lanka, demanding President & PM to step down.
📌Protesters storm President's House
📌Protesters storm President's Office
📌Protesters storm Prime Minister's House
📸Twitter #LKA #SriLanka #EconomicCrisisLK #SriLankaCrisis #SriLankaProtests pic.twitter.com/pzJlKUG4Qo

— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet) July 9, 2022

“The office of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the protesters forced their way into his Colombo home on Saturday evening. It wasn’t immediately clear if he was inside at the time of the attack,” NPR reported.

Although Wickremesinghe said earlier that he will resign only when all parties have agreed on a new government, the prime minister resigned after protestors swarmed the presidential palace.

Sri Lanka's prime minister resigns after protesters swarm president's palace https://t.co/Jaf1WhY8aX pic.twitter.com/MNB1j48YH8

— New York Post (@nypost) July 9, 2022

BREAKING: Ranil Wickremesinghe resigns as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) July 9, 2022

The New York Post reported:

Earlier, Wickremesinghe, who is also the country’s finance minister, took to Twitter to say that he was stepping aside to make way for an all-party government to take over the country in the wake of the protests over rampant inflation and fuel and food shortages.

“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,” he tweeted. “To facilitate this I will resign as Prime Minister.”

Earlier in the day, thousands of protestors broke through police barriers and stormed the official residence of president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the commercial capital of Colombo. Viral video footage showed protestors wandering through the residence and swimming in the pool.

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

— DailyMirror (@Dailymirror_SL) July 9, 2022

Sri Lanka’s president also offered his resignation, according to NBC News.

The speaker of Sri Lanka’s Parliament says President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has agreed to resign as of Wednesday.

Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said in a televised statement Saturday that he informed Rajapaksa of a decision taken at a meeting of Parliamentary party leaders requesting he leave office, and he agreed.

However Rajapaksa will remain as president until Wednesday to ensure a smooth transfer of power, Abeywardena added.

The announcement came hours after protesters stormed the president’s official residence to vent their anger over the country’s severe economic crisis. Protesters also broke into Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe residence and set it on fire.

The decision came after the biggest protest yet swept Sri Lanka as tens of thousands of people broke through barricades and entered President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence and nearby office to vent their anger against a leader they hold responsible for the nation’s worst crisis.