The country is seeking a $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund
After months of boiling public anger over the worst economic crisis in 70 years, thousands of protestors have flooded the President's palace.
Sri Lanka is currently suffering an enormous economic collapse, a severe foreign exchange shortage and dwindling supplies of fuel, food and medicine. Officials are in talks with the International Monetary Fund, hoping for a $3 billion bailout, but political unrest could jeopardise the proceedings.
https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1545689501758111744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1545689501758111744%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgulfnews.com%2Fworld%2Fasia%2Fvideo-sri-lanka-president-gotabaya-rajapaksa-flees-as-protesters-storm-home-1.1657350069987
According to Reuters, after months of a sit-in protest in the commercial capital Colombo, protestors stormed the colonial-era white-washed building with no security personnel in sight.
https://twitter.com/jake_hanrahan/status/1545727579449171970?s=21&t=5FDK-XhmvRDRIpi-jEh4Kw
President Rajapaksa was moved to a secure location on Friday, and today, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe called an emergency meeting of the party leaders. Wickremesinghe has also been moved to a secure location and has asked the speaker to summon parliament.
https://twitter.com/Dailymirror_SL/status/1545689406236934145
Chants calling for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation are plentiful, as are videos from within the presidential residence. In one video shared by Newswire on Twitter, thousands can be seen huddled together as they break past barricades. In another, groups of people are swimming in the President's pool.
According to a recent update, Rajapaksa has agreed to respect the decision of his party leaders.
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Protests have been going on for months/Via Getty[/caption]
Just yesterday, Japan's
longest-running former Prime Minister was shot while giving a speech. Shinzo Abe, who was 67 at the time of his death, was reportedly shot in the right side of his neck and died in hospital shortly afterwards.
https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1545425239458267137
Under his leadership, Japan became a vocal critic of China's treatment of Taiwan, urging the United States to commit to defending Taiwan in case of attack.
Leaders from across the globe have shared their condolences with India's Narendra Modi writing: "I am shocked and saddened beyond words at the tragic demise of one of my dearest friends, Shinzo Abe.
"He was a towering global statesman, an outstanding leader, and a remarkable administrator. He dedicated his life to make Japan and the world a better place."
https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1545339439458750464
Similarly, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, said: "A wonderful person, great democrat and champion of the multilateral world order has passed away.
"I mourn with his family, his friends and all the people of Japan.
"This brutal and cowardly murder of @AbeShinzo shocks the whole world."
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