Thousands of protesters stormed Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's official residence as part of an anti-government demonstration calling for his resignation following the country's economic collapse.
Demonstrators marched to Sri Lanka's commercial capital of Colombo early Saturday. They jumped security fences surrounding the residence and overran the president's security forces. Rajapaksa was evacuated from the palace around 1000 local time, his secretary Gamini Senarath told Bloomberg.
"The president was escorted to safety," a senior defense source told AFP. "He is still the president, he is being protected by a military unit."
Alleged footage of the president fleeing on a naval ship.
🇱🇰 BREAKING NEWS🇱🇰
— UNN (@UnityNewsNet) July 9, 2022
Footage emerges said to be of President Rajapakse fleeing Sri Lanka aboard a Navy Vessel. pic.twitter.com/yvaYv5uGvB
Footage uploaded to social media platforms from the president's residence shows thousands of protesters surrounding the palace and then charging inside.
Colombo, Sri Lanka right now. The Presidential Palace has been stormed, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is said to have fled. Unbelievable scenes. Live reports on @IndiaToday: https://t.co/p6JV6FzCub pic.twitter.com/8zlJdBfN2P
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) July 9, 2022
BREAKING: Sri Lanka protestors have stormed the presidential palace pic.twitter.com/wMLTBymtot
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) July 9, 2022
Protesters enjoying Sri Lanka’s absconding President’s swimming pool! No dictator should remain in illusion that the power is for ever, and when the end comes, it is always violent and nasty. pic.twitter.com/T3ePbkA0gM
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) July 9, 2022
🚨Breaking: Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flees after he declared the nation as...