Video: Protesters In Kitchen, Pool – Scenes Inside Lanka President’s Home

Sri Lanka Economic Crisis: Sri Lanka is going through its worst economic crisis since independence, as shortage of foreign exchange has stalled imports, leaving the country short of fuel, medicines and other essential goods.

Video: Protesters In Kitchen, Pool - Scenes Inside Lanka President's Home

Sri Lanka Economic Crisis: Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence.

Colombo:

Thousands of Sri Lankan protesters broke through police barricades and entered President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s official residence in Colombo today in one of the largest anti-government marches in the country.

Protesters holding Sri Lankan flags and helmets broke into the president’s residence demanding his resignation. Sri Lanka is reeling under a severe foreign exchange shortage which has resulted in the worst financial crisis in almost seven decades although the protests in the crisis-hit country, since March, have largely remained peaceful.

Videos shared on social media today showed the angry protesters inside the president’s house shouting slogans and drinking.

Boisterous Sri Lankan protesters can also be seen in videos jumping into the compound’s pool of the colonial-era state mansion for a swim.

Lankan President Rajapaksa was shifted to the Army headquarters last night after intelligence reports warned that the situation “would go out of control”. His sudden departure has raised questions as to whether he intended to remain in office.

Footage on social media also showed protesters gathered in the palace’s kitchen cooking, laughing and eating food. Essential imports of fuel, food and medicine in the island nation of 22 million people has also been limited amid the crisis.

Earlier in the day, Sri Lankan police had attempted to disperse the crowd and stop the protesters from entering the premises of the presidential residence. Police used firing and tear gas after which three people were injured and 36 others who suffered breathing difficulties hospitalised.

Videos also showed a vehicle convoy belonging to President Rajapaksa at Sri Lanka’s main international airport, although there has been no confirmation on whether he left the country.


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