Protesters in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo continue to occupy the offices of the president and prime minister for a second consecutive day, vowing they will stay put until both officially have resigned. Determined to see the country’s top leaders step down amid an unprecedented economic crisis, thousands of people stormed the president’s residence on Saturday and later set fire to the prime minister’s house, forcing the two leaders into hiding. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said he will leave office once a new government is in place, while Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 73, would step down as president on Wednesday. But protesters are refusing to […]
Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has agreed to step down next week, an official said, after protesters stormed the presidential palace and set fire to the prime minister’s home to vent their anger over a worsening economic crisis. Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said in a televised statement on Saturday that Rajapaksa has agreed to resign on July 13. “The decision to step down on July 13 was taken to ensure a peaceful handover of power,” Abeywardena said. “I therefore request the public to respect the law and maintain peace.” The news of president’s decision triggered an eruption of celebratory fireworks in parts of the capital, Colombo. Al Jazeera’s Minelle […]
Protesters in Sri Lanka have marked 50 days of their campaign that calls for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation. Police fired tear gas and water cannons at protesters to stop them from heading towards the President’s house. Rajapaksa has refused to resign and is battling the protests amid the worst economic crisis the country has faced since independence in 1948. Al Jazeera’s Minelle Fernandez reports from Colombo, Sri Lanka. – Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe – Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish – Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera – Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/ #SriLankaProtests #GalleFaceProtests #GoHomeRajapaksas
