Protesters in Sri Lanka have broken into the prime minister’s private residence and set him on fire, hours after he said he would resign over the country’s deepening economic crisis.
Ranil Wickremesinghe announced he would resign on Saturday afternoon after thousands of people stormed the president’s official residence in the capital Colombo in one of the largest anti-government protests that have affected the country this year.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is under intense pressure to follow suit.
Wickremesinghe tweeted: “To ensure the continuity of government, including the security of all citizens, I accept the best recommendation of party leaders today, to give way to a government of all parties.”
He resigned after thousands descended on the government district of Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, shouting slogans against the president and dismantling several police barricades to get to his home.
Police fired into the air but were unable to prevent the enraged crowd from surrounding the residence.
At least 39 people, including two police officers, have been injured in the riots, hospital sources said.
Protesters also gathered in front of the Presidential Secretariat, the president’s office and the prime minister’s house.
Both Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe have been moved to a safe place, defense ministry sources said.
Hundreds of protesters with flags crowded inside the president’s property in front of the sea and used the pool in a live Facebook broadcast.
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0:53 Protesters from Sri Lanka break into the president’s house and go swimming Image: Protesters at the president’s house in Colombo. Image: AP
Wickremesinghe, who was appointed in May, resigned after convening political party leaders for an emergency meeting.
He also called for parliament to be removed by the president, his office said.
U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung urged people to protest peacefully and for police to give space to protesters, warning that “chaos and force will not fix the economy.”
Sri Lanka, with 22 million people, is facing its worst economic crisis in seven decades since independence in 1948.
Inflation reached a record 54.6% in June and is expected to soar to 70%, increasing pressure on the population with cash problems.
Image: Protesters in the presidential palace. Image: News Cutter Image: The garden of the president’s residence was invaded. Image: Reuters Image: President’s home. Image: Reuters
The country has been struggling with a severe shortage of foreign exchange that has limited essential imports of fuel, food and medicine.
Many attribute the fall to Mr. Rajapaksa, who has faced constant calls to resign.
Protester Sampath Perera, 37, has criticized the president for “holding on to power” and warned, “We won’t stop until he hears us.”
Image: Crowds gathered in front of the president’s office in Colombo. Image: AP Image: A tear gas shell fired by police lands in the crowd. Image: AP Image: Authorities try to disperse protesters in Colombo. Image: AP
Anger intensified in recent weeks as fuel shipments declined, prompting gasoline and diesel to be rationed for essential services.
The British Foreign Office has warned against all travel to the country except essentials, which have been left in financial crisis due to poor economic management and the impact of the pandemic.
In April this year, Sri Lanka announced that it was suspending the repayment of foreign loans, blaming the shortage of foreign exchange.
Image: A man covers his face after throwing tear gas at Colombo. Image: AP Image: Protesters came prepared with gas masks. Image: AP
It has accumulated debts of more than £ 42bn, of which about half, £ 23.3bn, will have to be paid by the end of 2027.
The crisis has severely affected the reputation of the Rajapaksa political dynasty, which has led the country for most of the past two decades.
Rajapaksa has so far remained in power after his brother resigned as prime minister in May and two more brothers and a nephew left office in the cabinet this year.