Thousands Swarm Sri Lanka’s Presidential Residence, Leaders Agree to Step Down
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his family blamed for policies that have virtually bankrupted the island nation
New Delhi — Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa agreed to resign hours after thousands of protesters stormed his residence and set fire to the prime minister’s home in the capital Colombo amid mounting public outrage over a monthslong economic crisis. Parliamentary speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said late Saturday that the president had asked him to inform the country that he will step down July 13 to ensure a smooth transition of power. “Therefore, there is no need for further disturbances, and I urge everyone to maintain the peace,” Abeywardena said in a televised statement. Rajapaksa was taken by troops to a safe, undisclosed location ahead of the protest. Widely blamed for the devastating economic downturn, he has been under public pressure to quit for months. The president’s decision to resign was announced after Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also offered to step down and make way for an all-party government. The political crisis unraveled as Colombo witnessed widespread public fury after thousands converged in the city for the biggest anti-government protest seen in recent months. Dramatic footage on social media showed hundreds of people swarming President Rajapaksa’s palatial residence, chanting slogans, packing corridors and sitting in rooms while some are seen taking a dip in a swimming pool. Jubilant protesters also entered the president’s office shouting “You thought you could stop us, but here we are.” Authorities had deployed nearly 20,000 troops ahead of the rally and reinforced security outside the president’s residence, but they could not hold back defiant protesters from breaking through security barricades. They had come in buses, trains and trucks, waving black and national flags and chanting “Gota, go home” – the cry that has been ringing in Colombo for three months demanding that President Rajapaksa quit. Dozens of people were injured as chaotic scenes unfolded throughout the day. Police initially imposed a curfew Friday to prevent the rally, but it was lifted after strong objections by civil society groups and opposition parties. Frustration has been building in the country over the worsening fuel shortages and runaway inflation that has led to a massive hike in food prices. Much of the public ire is directed against President Rajapaksa and other members of his family who had held powerful posts in the government. While others had resigned, the president had so far defied calls to quit. Wickremesinghe, who became prime minister in May after former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa quit, faces anger because he is seen as being close to the Rajapaksas and was accused of trying to protect them. Protesters also stormed the prime minister’s private residence in an affluent neighborhood at night and set it on fire. He had also been moved to a safe location as the protests escalated, according to reports. The Rajapaksas, a powerful political dynasty, who returned to power in 2019, are blamed for policies that have virtually bankrupted the island nation of 22 million. In recent weeks, the country has come to a virtual standstill as it cannot import food, fuel or medicines because of its depleted foreign exchange reserves — schools have been shut for three weeks, government employees have been asked to work from home and factories find it difficult to operate thanks to power outages and fuel shortages. Sales of gasoline and diesel for private vehicles were banned Sunday for two weeks after authorities said the country was left with less than a day’s worth of fuel stocks for regular demand. Soaring inflation has made food expensive. While the crisis was years in the making, mismanagement during President Rajapaksa’s tenure compounded the problems, according to economists. Populist tax breaks depleted government revenues, an abrupt switch to organic farming led to a steep fall in agricultural production even as the pandemic battered its tourist dependent economy. Massive loans to finance infrastructure projects built by China added to its debt burden. The country is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund for a bailout, but the political instability that now wracks the country could undermine the process.