BREAKING: Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will step down from the presidency on 13 July. 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube
Protesters also assembled outside the Presidential Secretariat, the office of the president, and the home of prime minister.
Hundreds of flag-bearing protesters packed inside the president's sea-front property and used the swimming pool on a Facebook livestream.Sri Lanka protesters break into president's home and go swimmingMr Wickremesinghe, who was appointed in May, resigned after summoning political party leaders for an emergency meeting.
Inflation hit a record 54.6% in June and is expected to soar to 70%, piling pressure on the cash-strapped population.The garden at the president's residence was overrun. Pic: ReutersThe country has been struggling under a severe foreign exchange shortage that has limited essential imports of fuel, food and medicine.Protester Sampath Perera, 37, criticised the president for"clinging on to power" and warned:"We will not stop until he listens to us.
It has accumulated debts of more than £42bn, of which around half, £23.3bn, must be repaid by the end of 2027.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Will Resign Amid Political TurmoilHis 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
Read more »
Sri Lanka protesters swim in president's pool after storming official residenceProtesters in Sri Lanka have been filmed swimming in the president's pool after they stormed into the official residence demanding his resignation.
Read more »
Warning Sri Lanka's inflation could surge to 70% as it battles soaring costsSri Lanka’s central bank has raised interest rates to their highest levels in more than 20 years as it battles to put a lid on spiralling prices.
Read more »
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Will Resign Amid Political TurmoilHis 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
Read more »