Sri Lanka crisis: Day after protesters force Gotabaya to flee home, Presidential palace turns to 'tourist spot'
India Today
Video footage taken at the Presidential palace in Sri Lanka showed that the official residence has been turned into a "tourist spot" a day after protesters stormed the building on Saturday. Watch here
A day after Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled his official residence in Colombo on Saturday, a ground report from the Presidential Palace shows that it has become a “tourist spot”. People can be seen milling around the compound as they wait for the official news of the president’s resignation.
People gathered at the site are being provided with food and water. Once the most guarded location in the country, the structure has now become a tourist spot. Placards with “Gota go home” can be seen lying around as protesters refuse to leave till the president resigns.
Watch the video here:
The president fled his official residence on Saturday moments before thousands of protesters broke through police barricades and stormed the compound. Protestors across the country have been demanding the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa amid the unprecedented economic crisis.
Later, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced that Gotabaya will resign from the Presidency on July 13.
Earlier, videos had emerged of protesters taking dips in the swimming pool, working out at the presidential gym, and gorging on the food in the President’s kitchen.
Ranil Wickremesinghe also announced that he is stepping down as Sri Lanka's Prime Minister. "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. To facilitate this I will resign as Prime Minister," PM Ranil Wickremesinghe tweeted on Saturday.
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