In the island state of Sri Lanka, angry protesters stormed the estate of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the capital Colombo on Saturday. “The president has been brought to safety,” defense officials said. Rajapaksa is still the country’s president and is protected by the military in a secret location.
Private broadcaster Sirasa TV showed the crowd entering the formerly heavily guarded presidential palace in Colombo. The protesters, who had gathered by the thousands on Rajapaksa’s grounds, demanded his resignation.
The background is the enormous economic crisis in which the country is stuck. The government is no longer able to finance essential imports such as food, fuel and medicines.
Dead and injured in mass protests in May
Mass anti-government protests escalated in May. There were dead and hundreds injured. The government of Mahnda Rajapaksa then resigned. The brother of the outgoing head of government, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, remained in office.
A major cause of the worst economic crisis since the South Asian country gained independence in 1948 was the decline in international tourism caused by the corona pandemic. The government was also accused of maladministration.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
