Protesters have stormed the Sri Lankan prime minister’s office as police use tear gas against crowds.
The prime minister’s office has declared a state of emergency across the country and a curfew has been imposed on the western province of Sri Lanka.
Last night, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country after months of unrest culminating in protesters converging on the presidential palace. He has agreed to resign.
In recent days, protesters have occupied several government buildings demanding the resignation of their top leaders, showing their anger over a three-month economic crisis.
People have flocked to the presidential palace: swimming in the pool, marveling at the paintings, and resting on the pillow-strewn beds.
On Wednesday, groups could be seen climbing the wall and entering the office as the crowd roared in support, cheering them on and waving the Sri Lankan flag.
Police used tear gas to try to disperse the crowd, but failed.
Read more: What is happening in Sri Lanka?
Protesters have now seized the country’s national television station, Rupavahini.
Bhasura Wickremesinghe, a 24-year-old maritime electrical engineering student who came with friends, said the president fleeing the country was a “shy act.”
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3:48 What about Sri Lanka now?
“I’m not celebrating. It doesn’t make sense to celebrate. We don’t have anything in this country at the moment.”
Rajapaksa left the country on a military plane bound for the Maldives with his wife and two bodyguards.
Sri Lanka’s parliamentary spokesman said Rajapaksa appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting president, which allowed him to exercise presidential responsibilities.
Protesters have vowed to occupy official buildings until top leaders disappear and demand the resignation of the prime minister.
Sri Lankan lawmakers agreed to elect a new president next week, but have struggled to decide on the composition of a new government to pull the bankrupt country out of economic and political collapse.
Image: Photo: AP Image: Photo: AP
The new president will serve the remainder of Rajapaksa’s term, which ends in 2024, and could appoint a new prime minister, who would then have to be approved by parliament.
However, the promised resignations have not ended the crisis.
At one point, protesters also burned the prime minister’s private home.
The economic crisis in Sri Lanka has caused a severe shortage of food and fuel that has caused people to queue for hours to buy supplies.