Resignations seem to be the flavour of month
Government sources say Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will step down after mass protests culminated in crowds storming both the presidential palace and the prime minister’s official residence.
They are still occupying both, seen using the pool, gym facilities and beds. Moreover, they say they have no intention of leaving until leaders officially resign.
Hundreds of people in Colombo, Sri Lanka, continued to occupy President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence and office — and even used the pool and gym — a day after demonstrators stormed the buildings in protest of the island nation’s economic crisis. https://t.co/etaT9rivEh pic.twitter.com/SmvoB6WjgT
— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 10, 2022
Speaking on Saturday, the nation’s parliament speaker said the president would resign on July 13, with PM Ranil Wickremesinghe also suggesting he would step down from his position.
However, his office is now said to have issued a statement that says Rajapaksa intends to leave office on Wednesday, yet there has been no word from the man himself. Here is the moment thousands gathered in the capital of Colombo storm the place:
Protestors calling for resignation of Sri Lanka's president storm presidential palace in Colombopic.twitter.com/oMQmvNC5B5
— Rezaul Hasan Laskar (@Rezhasan) July 9, 2022
Under the Sri Lankan constitution, a resignation can only formally be accepted when he resigns by letter of his writing to the parliament speaker, which has yet to happen and people are sceptical – his absence is also causing some concern.
While his current whereabouts remain unknown, military sources have told the BBC that they believe he is currently on a navy vessel in Sri Lankan waters, adding that his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa (a former PM) is holed up in a naval base.
The protests themselves have been going on since March 15 as the people of Sri Lanka say the president and his ministers are responsible for the corruption and mismanagement which has led to an economic collapse across the South Asian country.
Under their leadership, the nation has been hit not only with heavy inflation but is struggling to import food, fuel and medicine, leading to hunger, power cuts and regular unrest.
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