Calm after the storm, as citizens flock to Sri Lanka’s captured power centres 

As calm returns to Colombo, people make their way to the presidential palace in ‘regulated’ long queues; Presidential Secretariat resembles a public park

Sunday was nothing like Saturday near Colombo’s seafront.   

It was much less crowded, but still teeming with people. They were curiously surveying the Presidential Secretariat and official residence, a day after outraged demonstrators captured and occupied the iconic colonial-era structures, in a stunning finale to a season of protests in crisis-hit Sri Lanka. 

In their smiling faces, a sense of accomplishment appeared to have displaced anger as they walked through the sites of unbridled executive power that have now become symbols of their resistance to it. “I was here yesterday, too. The rally was historic. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see and be part of such a massive protest to dislodge our leaders,” said Masha Munaweera, a 34-year-old banker. She was back at the site, along with her mother. “She too wanted to see this change,” Ms. Munaweera said, cautiously adding: “I really hope they [President and PM] do resign. There is some concern they may try to hold on to power. Let’s see.” 

The scepticism is widely shared among citizens who had hoped for change. All the same, they were keen to savour the moment, and partake in the new hope it has brought.

The presidential palace, until 48 hours ago, was a high-security area, with barricades keeping passers by an entire lane away. From not being able to get even a glimpse of the building, people were thronging its gates on Sunday, as its new occupants tried to regulate a very large and excited crowd.

“Please bear with us. We are trying to send you all inside in batches to make it manageable,” said a man seated on top of the high compound wall. Through the fences, long queues of people could be seen making their way in, to see for themselves the different spots at Mr. Gotabaya’s former home, seen in the unbelievable, now viral, videos of citizens taking a dip in the pool, cooking a meal, or relaxing in a luxury couch.   

Just outside, the walls by the large iron gates at the top of the lane are now filled with protest graffiti after Saturday’s takeover by demonstrators. Screaming ‘Go home Gota’, ‘Go Gota Jail’, ‘Power to the people beyond parliament’ in black font, they are now popular backdrops for photographs. At the nearest junction, dozens were queuing up to climb a clock tower, as protest music blared through speakers kept on the road.