{"id":95352,"date":"2022-07-10T02:19:39","date_gmt":"2022-07-10T02:19:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=95352"},"modified":"2022-07-10T02:19:39","modified_gmt":"2022-07-10T02:19:39","slug":"chaos-in-colombo-sri-lankas-president-and-pm-to-resign-after-palace-stormed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/chaos-in-colombo-sri-lankas-president-and-pm-to-resign-after-palace-stormed\/","title":{"rendered":"Chaos in Colombo: Sri Lanka\u2019s president and PM to resign after palace stormed"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chaos in Colombo: Sri Lanka\u2019s president and PM to resign after palace stormed<\/span><\/h1>\n

Source :\u00a0thenewdaily.com.au<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Sri Lanka\u2019s president and prime minister will both step down after a day in which protesters angry about the country\u2019s economic crisis stormed the presidential palace and set the PM\u2019s house on fire.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a dramatic escalation of the country\u2019s woes, thousands descended on the capital Colombo and broke through iron fortifications at the official residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.<\/span><\/p>\n

Protesters were seen jumping in the pool, lounging in state rooms,\u00a0 laying on beds, making tea and issuing \u201cstatements\u201d from the conference room, calling on the president to quit.<\/span><\/p>\n

The president was not home at the time, having been whisked away to a \u201csafe\u201d location.<\/span><\/p>\n

President Rajapaksa announced his resignation hours after the protesters overran his official residence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had earlier announced he would be stepping aside, and hours later his house was set on fire.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Chaos
<\/span> Protesters wade in the pool on the grounds of the presidential compound. Photo: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sri Lanka has been in the grip of a months-long economic crisis that the PM was appointed to try and alleviate as the country was hit by rampant inflation and shortages of food, fuel and medicines.<\/span><\/p>\n

The speaker of Sri Lanka\u2019s parliament said the president had agreed to resign as of Wednesday, July 13.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said in a televised statement on Saturday that he informed Rajapaksa of a decision taken at a meeting of parliamentary party leaders requesting he leave office, and he agreed.<\/span><\/p>\n

However Mr Rajapaksa will remain as president until Wednesday to ensure a smooth transfer of power, Mr Abeywardena added.<\/span><\/p>\n

The prime minister announced earlier that he would resign in response to calls by political leaders for him and the resident to quit, after tens of thousands of people trooped to the capital to vent their fury.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Chaos
<\/span> The prime minister\u2019s private house was set on fire. Photo: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cToday in this country we have a fuel crisis, a food shortage, we have the head of the World Food Program coming here and we have several matters to discuss with the IMF. Therefore, if this government leaves there should be another government,\u201d Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said.<\/span><\/p>\n

But he made it clear he would not step down before a new government was formed, angering crowds near his home who demanded his immediate departure.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Chaos
<\/span> Tearing down fortifications outside the presidential palace. Photo: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Mr Wickremesinghe said he suggested to the president to have an all-party government, but didn\u2019t say anything about Mr Rajapaksa\u2019s whereabouts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Opposition parties in Parliament were discussing the formation of a new government.<\/span><\/p>\n

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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. <\/span><\/p>\n

To facilitate this I will resign as Prime Minister.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ranil Wickremesinghe (@RW_UNP) July 9, 2022<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n